tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49749385854001085472024-03-14T04:00:36.794-05:00The Great Roll Call RoadtripGo cruising with Plainsense in his Boattail Riv. Along the way we will discuss what's on our mind while drinking a craft beer, smoking a fine cigar and only listening to good music. So hop in and let's go! I only ask that you throw in a little gas money.Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.comBlogger468125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-84858036816921576502023-07-27T19:47:00.000-05:002023-07-27T19:47:14.626-05:00Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound Rewrites Night of the Iguanas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRyvc7B6DmD75YIkWugptp6pl1ASEhzDFwbQfr9TBZ_rAGwGApq5qEEpjzaFIERUQdj8gL4pkrpHGYY-vltweiot7sN0rkn8WCAiezyw1ze37zrGYbTY_u5yWlYbmbki27_ZCZpYz5xElOyDaOP9M7OpprhyQ-0c0LDlL6vqqHaAnxEqrowUCHnPxrcZ0/s4032/IMG_4990.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRyvc7B6DmD75YIkWugptp6pl1ASEhzDFwbQfr9TBZ_rAGwGApq5qEEpjzaFIERUQdj8gL4pkrpHGYY-vltweiot7sN0rkn8WCAiezyw1ze37zrGYbTY_u5yWlYbmbki27_ZCZpYz5xElOyDaOP9M7OpprhyQ-0c0LDlL6vqqHaAnxEqrowUCHnPxrcZ0/w480-h640/IMG_4990.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>You could feel Tennessee Williams' presence under the canopy at the Hook and Ladder on a hot and humid Sunday night in South Minneapolis. But what many concert goers expected would be the night of the Iguanas got up-ended by the powerful funk and poly rhythms of Cebar's Tomorrow Sound.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFY6itwB4j7MNcM4L0RhKYAUKCRVlo7-1_TmztuPlJLHdCvy9eUfQXLMy0rAZ76XGagB-RedVxULVdXDWubR4ajqySfKTgd7l9ThxzTeFJDd-9S2Dphshp-wp76jwXAclvVDUqm9cNAXRLcma4MmkgvhDWxv7Q4p8e1LaFFHva6BXeLpfMNY06XxN22DQ7/s245/IMG_5036.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="180" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFY6itwB4j7MNcM4L0RhKYAUKCRVlo7-1_TmztuPlJLHdCvy9eUfQXLMy0rAZ76XGagB-RedVxULVdXDWubR4ajqySfKTgd7l9ThxzTeFJDd-9S2Dphshp-wp76jwXAclvVDUqm9cNAXRLcma4MmkgvhDWxv7Q4p8e1LaFFHva6BXeLpfMNY06XxN22DQ7/s1600/IMG_5036.jpeg" width="180" /> </a>I knew we were in for a special night when Mike Fredrickson, Tomorrow Sound's propulsive bassist and band barometer, climbed up on the bank of speakers to take a peek at the audience prior to their opening set. Fredrickson's face transformed into one big mischievous grin as he peered around the corner of the speakers before turning back to his band mates to relay his impression of the crowd. Whatever Fredrickson said must have been truly inspiring as Tomorrow Sound came roaring out of the blocks. Led by Fredrickson's ferocious bass playing , the likes of which this writer has not witnessed since seeing a young Kenny Gradney in the mid 70's at the peak of Feat's fame, and the incomparable drumming of Reggie Bordeaux, guitarist/vocalist Cebar and multi-instrumentalist Bob Jennings conjured up one funky treat after another to the delight of the many sweaty dancers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwQcU01syU5J9gREfoEAqlQI7mA_3AaEMe-zqX2Bbz7GKmX2n7DucMlDdwwg-cT7VTZURl0VBi3DYt2geThd2MsprlSn9WzdVbe3l2_HT9kHR31FXaIa83b1l9rtDmuqNPaoNr_AF0CYNRVw95sqlxTVTvxpvisRZ-29JLVRLSFksaoutTya6EeeJzI4d/s4032/IMG_4999.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwQcU01syU5J9gREfoEAqlQI7mA_3AaEMe-zqX2Bbz7GKmX2n7DucMlDdwwg-cT7VTZURl0VBi3DYt2geThd2MsprlSn9WzdVbe3l2_HT9kHR31FXaIa83b1l9rtDmuqNPaoNr_AF0CYNRVw95sqlxTVTvxpvisRZ-29JLVRLSFksaoutTya6EeeJzI4d/w150-h200/IMG_4999.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRyvc7B6DmD75YIkWugptp6pl1ASEhzDFwbQfr9TBZ_rAGwGApq5qEEpjzaFIERUQdj8gL4pkrpHGYY-vltweiot7sN0rkn8WCAiezyw1ze37zrGYbTY_u5yWlYbmbki27_ZCZpYz5xElOyDaOP9M7OpprhyQ-0c0LDlL6vqqHaAnxEqrowUCHnPxrcZ0/s4032/IMG_4990.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EJoH2Yyc6Vc" width="320" youtube-src-id="EJoH2Yyc6Vc"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; text-decoration: none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; text-decoration: none;"><br /></div></a><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRyvc7B6DmD75YIkWugptp6pl1ASEhzDFwbQfr9TBZ_rAGwGApq5qEEpjzaFIERUQdj8gL4pkrpHGYY-vltweiot7sN0rkn8WCAiezyw1ze37zrGYbTY_u5yWlYbmbki27_ZCZpYz5xElOyDaOP9M7OpprhyQ-0c0LDlL6vqqHaAnxEqrowUCHnPxrcZ0/s4032/IMG_4990.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmARMczD9UStwvjlZ7ZYyxU8R7k9U_UBFbE5dSl2OLS2WcYQeyXfko9UjJoBEJKiZQKR0xoqV2ULdttDKrbZDc0uwixFhmDe8MG7ZnOqIkj5BviF-PrLzJjWXMZmJbIC7665iFvpeyqS-5qsrb42A78dcrN5E8rrP3uRzFdvO-daAncYmWxFM6hhDWJhGl/s4032/IMG_4996.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmARMczD9UStwvjlZ7ZYyxU8R7k9U_UBFbE5dSl2OLS2WcYQeyXfko9UjJoBEJKiZQKR0xoqV2ULdttDKrbZDc0uwixFhmDe8MG7ZnOqIkj5BviF-PrLzJjWXMZmJbIC7665iFvpeyqS-5qsrb42A78dcrN5E8rrP3uRzFdvO-daAncYmWxFM6hhDWJhGl/w300-h400/IMG_4996.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div></div><br /><p><br /></p>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-4543529209211019642023-07-13T17:26:00.003-05:002023-07-18T12:25:56.411-05:00Robert Gordon (March 29, 1947-October 18, 2022): Rockabilly Vocalist Extraordinaire and Collaborator with Great Guitarists<p> I am a little late in acknowledging the passing of Bethesda, Maryland native and perhaps the best pure rockabilly voice since Elvis, Robert Gordon, who died of leukemia last October. Gordon deserves all the credit in the world for single-handedly reinvigorating the American music genre of rockabilly. </p><p>In addition to being blessed with a great set of pipes, Gordon also had the good fortune to work with some of the greatest guitarists in history. Having a discerning ear for guitar players should be of no surprise to anyone familiar with the D.C. area's wealth in guitar talent, where Gordon grew up. Gordon hooked up with guitar god Link Wray early in his career only to be topped by his short but storied collaboration with the king of guitar, Danny Gatton. The mixing board tape of Gordon and Gatton's live tour which later became the legendary bootleg "The Humbler" is deserving of its iconic status in the pantheon of rock music's G.O.A.T.</p><p> As if Wray and Gatton were not enough, Gordon worked with the great British guitarist Chris Spedding throughout his career.</p><p>I first encountered Gordon in 1977 at the University of Maryland's Ritchie Coliseum where Gordon</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUApKiEAiDMLMts7hU5iBhAotL-WrXs74e2Ziq_YElGqyAMlhRnocgAB4d-q6FeLXurp8kQtA6fp8WWCIW1OrNZmYt-cQl7uDNBrt77THgcBohYULCbkSswPiomsbgtAq0QT5tAY5erHIo9vMaMaIyHM1_WWwngiGJDS0l-27NkQsiKIviEGriSFTkNCX0/s640/Robert%20Gordon%20Band%20at%20Lees.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUApKiEAiDMLMts7hU5iBhAotL-WrXs74e2Ziq_YElGqyAMlhRnocgAB4d-q6FeLXurp8kQtA6fp8WWCIW1OrNZmYt-cQl7uDNBrt77THgcBohYULCbkSswPiomsbgtAq0QT5tAY5erHIo9vMaMaIyHM1_WWwngiGJDS0l-27NkQsiKIviEGriSFTkNCX0/s320/Robert%20Gordon%20Band%20at%20Lees.jpg" width="102" /></a></div><br /> opened for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. I immediately went out and purchased his album "Fresh Fish Special" which only confirmed Gordon's immense talent in my mind. Growing up in Northern Virginia there was great diversity in music influences among my friends but one artist we all could agree on was Robert Gordon. When I moved back to my home state of Minnesota to attend college I continued to follow Gordon and tried to attend the few shows he performed in Minneapolis. I loved his album "Are You Gonna Be the One" with the Marshall Crenshaw numbers and Danny Gatton's guitar work. When he played First Avenue in support of that album the review of the show had about two sentences on Robert before the concert reviewer blew his journalistic wad praising the virtues of this "unknown guitarist", Danny Gatton. Considering First Avenue was the house that Prince built (so to speak) and its stage was no stranger to great guitarists, I had to chuckle reading the Gatton initiate's review.<p></p><p>Having decided to stay in Minneapolis, my opportunities to see Gordon were few and far between. I seem to recall a brief and rather disappointing performance by Robert at the Cabooze Bar sometime in the late 1980's or early 1990's but that was about it. That is until he blessed Minneapolis with one of his rare performances from the tour Robert Gordon and the Gang They Couldn't Hang. Robert and his Gang were in fine form that night leaving me with fond memories of the preeminent rockabilly artist of our time . </p><p><br /></p><p>For my review of that show click here: <a href="https://thegreatrollcall.blogspot.com/2010/01/robert-gordon-his-gang-can-still-hang.html" target="_blank">Robert Gordon & his Gang Can Still Hang With the Best of Them </a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TS1nhxlCUGGv7uLRRyOFKYUpqOwzE5hylRo5PyJigeiwUi6ykBeL1cAWI51pU7niNERIufPBhlGT3E-WgfxPF8B3gck6VUxcSpegNTH4yUknv4NhGdyqD8eyRGmDiQmjljQhzspLB6yrY4vTMz5rXdQ8BeXmHgz7YljnnA63DXgsyqVpLBknzftWKYyF/s400/RGordonWEB3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TS1nhxlCUGGv7uLRRyOFKYUpqOwzE5hylRo5PyJigeiwUi6ykBeL1cAWI51pU7niNERIufPBhlGT3E-WgfxPF8B3gck6VUxcSpegNTH4yUknv4NhGdyqD8eyRGmDiQmjljQhzspLB6yrY4vTMz5rXdQ8BeXmHgz7YljnnA63DXgsyqVpLBknzftWKYyF/w414-h640/RGordonWEB3.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-13277863327132017052023-06-26T10:14:00.002-05:002023-06-28T11:14:23.952-05:00International Blues Guitarist Otis Grand Dies at Age 73<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Gr3_kKEb4Zx8no4Oxl3pGG-yOwg0pd6j5Rjn4dRn-36KjuDD-HO_ptadMzd7WR8ACCLBsJ7botE2sBASr5XSbf_MbPEK6dizfeBlaLbR2APVwvRFEMitnkJVAWdBNuPmQx8oxB5hDjU4YJc60VsuTdgzVy_BjlewDkMII298U_9ppb9eZC4OU1RLcZY6/s503/Otis%20Grand%202013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="326" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Gr3_kKEb4Zx8no4Oxl3pGG-yOwg0pd6j5Rjn4dRn-36KjuDD-HO_ptadMzd7WR8ACCLBsJ7botE2sBASr5XSbf_MbPEK6dizfeBlaLbR2APVwvRFEMitnkJVAWdBNuPmQx8oxB5hDjU4YJc60VsuTdgzVy_BjlewDkMII298U_9ppb9eZC4OU1RLcZY6/w414-h640/Otis%20Grand%202013.jpg" width="414" /></a><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>I was terribly saddened to learn of the passing of another great blues guitarist, Otis Grand, who died on June 9, 2023. Grand, whose real name was Fred Bishti, was born in Beirut, raised in the San Francisco Bay Area but found his fame in Britain. He was regarded as one of the best blues guitarists on the European circuit yet kept in touch with his many friends in the U.S. blues scene. Under appreciated in America, Grand also wrote and sang and put out several blues cds that were as good as any in the blues genre. With exquisite taste in singers, side men and women and material, I have 2 or 3 of Grand's cds in heavy rotation on my disc player most weeks. His collaborations with the cream of the crop of U.S. blues singers like Sugar Ray Norcia and Curtis Salgado capture some of their best work. For those unfamiliar with Grand's work, here is one of my favorite Grand originals,"Finish Line", off of his cd "Nothing Else Matters" featuring Curtis Salgado on vocals and a stellar horn section that includes the late great Bob Enos and Ritch Lataille from Roomful of Blues and Sax Gordon among others.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zGi9caoATRk" width="320" youtube-src-id="zGi9caoATRk"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 2013 Grand returned to the place of his birth, Beirut, Lebanon where he and his Blues 65 Band was the closing concert at the Zouk Mikael's International Music Festival under the stars in an ancient amphitheater. A generous friend, Otis invited many of his American blues musician friends to play in his band and share in a most unique and special life experience. Mr. Grand will be sorely missed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMfAbXf9SEfxwYYGrUIPUOr2jr5dCTBhy_EUjdE2jEUZtpcS56vy86Eu3teKOVg7FffiswcWzadH56PkY-hmmy5w312Q97qxsqZYErIQ70Fji4XnVC7FarxeTLqiIvRBoWVNgjHvzw9vXqGx0zGkib3OKYjBeDvruCI2aqT72vWJkQ2vnaynfliEEGerk/s1173/Otis%20Grand65Band%20zook.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="1173" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMfAbXf9SEfxwYYGrUIPUOr2jr5dCTBhy_EUjdE2jEUZtpcS56vy86Eu3teKOVg7FffiswcWzadH56PkY-hmmy5w312Q97qxsqZYErIQ70Fji4XnVC7FarxeTLqiIvRBoWVNgjHvzw9vXqGx0zGkib3OKYjBeDvruCI2aqT72vWJkQ2vnaynfliEEGerk/w640-h376/Otis%20Grand65Band%20zook.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-91249762149496566342023-06-07T22:19:00.001-05:002023-06-07T22:21:44.267-05:00Alejandro Escovedo Trio Get In Your Face at the dakota<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wcu5HSxeKWIkZHoFjH1rXmQ7xKoW1SPtyvN2q7bfIIMTFRCLNiCV07JnJNMObOD60JvKatNHmnqoLmD86juZSMas7iIEnpbfkG2DrMOG2sw3x_8H-D9Bntks9cynASje2tHzLgNzrLiQ5vi2Pj_0JrBgkhlNX4AR-a_z18I-RgOLyN-6h3VF7on2vA/s2400/AE%20dakota%20blackboard%20calendar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1015" data-original-width="2400" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wcu5HSxeKWIkZHoFjH1rXmQ7xKoW1SPtyvN2q7bfIIMTFRCLNiCV07JnJNMObOD60JvKatNHmnqoLmD86juZSMas7iIEnpbfkG2DrMOG2sw3x_8H-D9Bntks9cynASje2tHzLgNzrLiQ5vi2Pj_0JrBgkhlNX4AR-a_z18I-RgOLyN-6h3VF7on2vA/w640-h270/AE%20dakota%20blackboard%20calendar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> June 2, 2023 Minneapolis, MN<p></p><p>The last time Alejandro brought a band to town it was pre-covid and the band had just survived a close call when their vehicle hit a deer on the way to Kansas City. Escovedo, who had been on the road constantly since recovering from a serious illness years earlier, announced to the crowd that his current tour would be his last. At least for a good while. It was July 3, 2019 and the band had the 4th of July off but were doing a show in Madison, WI on the 5th. It was not the first time I drove for over 5 hours to see Escovedo and was hoping it would not be the last.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwiQmuL5vHSHHnjquT8m3TUjGAgjUAUNEoUkzZUu1XPkDg2YyG3VfqnVnBSyx_PNGRagyajPhHSFlKhJ0pLLoDq_m-uOwoYFkURUQPP-tBgYio6-3OjdraKT65RaE6okrzS1SQw4-wR31GrDEpQ0gNHD6RNZUiJLvtKqQ3-SL5WHFTVfQocaKaPMqvQ/s643/Mark%20Henne%20and%20AE.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="514" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwiQmuL5vHSHHnjquT8m3TUjGAgjUAUNEoUkzZUu1XPkDg2YyG3VfqnVnBSyx_PNGRagyajPhHSFlKhJ0pLLoDq_m-uOwoYFkURUQPP-tBgYio6-3OjdraKT65RaE6okrzS1SQw4-wR31GrDEpQ0gNHD6RNZUiJLvtKqQ3-SL5WHFTVfQocaKaPMqvQ/s320/Mark%20Henne%20and%20AE.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><br /></div><p>Fast forward to June of 2023 and Escovedo was back. This time with a slightly pared down band, just drums and keyboards to accompany his capable guitar work. As usual, he picked incredibly talented musicians, Mark Henne on drums and Scott Danbom on keyboards and violin, to accompany him. Although Escovedo's reputation in the music world is such that musicians line up 10 deep for a chance to add him to their resume, I have toyed with the idea of what a "help wanted" ad for a spot in his band would look like. I imagine it would read something like "versatile musicians wanted, steeped in improvisation, not easily flustered and comfortable with any genre from punk to folk or country to jazz".</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6Bu1FBpc8-zGQz0rEwzDpFFg3loh018JBDzFaf0KAjj6F3FtMNITGRYzZy9QhcN937apP587zctfAJ7slfK4IXWCPKy6VLiybm2Uks8K1afr97fP2D_sSivS5Kl_RoR_Prm7IMvnUlFrIg7zoUdR6zqVWjWfolLfx6oIMzW6Ud0Ebm37RWHTVoqHXw/s4032/IMG-4843.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6Bu1FBpc8-zGQz0rEwzDpFFg3loh018JBDzFaf0KAjj6F3FtMNITGRYzZy9QhcN937apP587zctfAJ7slfK4IXWCPKy6VLiybm2Uks8K1afr97fP2D_sSivS5Kl_RoR_Prm7IMvnUlFrIg7zoUdR6zqVWjWfolLfx6oIMzW6Ud0Ebm37RWHTVoqHXw/s320/IMG-4843.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />The reason I mention this is because I am sure neither Henne nor Danbom ever thought they would be doing experimental theater, playing table side at a jazz club, when they signed on to be in Escovedo's band. So seven songs into his performance at the already intimate dakota jazz club, Alejandro asked that the house light be turned up. Danbom traded his keyboards for a violin and Henne his drums for a tambourine and they ventured out into the audience to serenade us tableside. But that is quintessential Escovedo. Restless, ever changing, mixing things up and never resting on his laurels, of which there are many.<div><br /></div><div>But I am getting ahead of myself. The show for my son and I started with the trailing, ethereal guitar notes to "Way it Goes" as we were being seated at 7:30 pm. I later learned from AE's setlist that he had opened with "Wave". Word to the wise to be prompt and when they say "music at 7:00 pm" they mean it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBTYrEhcXsHagX6hxTQ6wVFcIlHcvU1rb8ZxgZ6fuObznP8N248a8p4p1fMpBnjFne2YJXKiG_TMPNHkewlAJYZjiy8hHzGUSJ6l3ixiXqkpnb1q98mBFokwYcpiqYJvvimbQNJHgLKBoK_pnQPB00FMopRU44cxVTEFaEuwsVdz7cg8XTLhriYyguA/s4032/IMG-4866%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBTYrEhcXsHagX6hxTQ6wVFcIlHcvU1rb8ZxgZ6fuObznP8N248a8p4p1fMpBnjFne2YJXKiG_TMPNHkewlAJYZjiy8hHzGUSJ6l3ixiXqkpnb1q98mBFokwYcpiqYJvvimbQNJHgLKBoK_pnQPB00FMopRU44cxVTEFaEuwsVdz7cg8XTLhriYyguA/s320/IMG-4866%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>"Dearhead on the Wall" was next, followed by a rousing version of another track off Boxing Mirror,<br /> "Break This Time", which featured some chunky rhythm guitar work by Escovedo. While I have become somewhat spoiled by the long list of great lead guitar players Escovedo usually brings on the road with him, it was refreshing to hear Escovedo's guitar work with emphasis on rhythm front and center.</div><div><br /></div><div>Escovedo continued with his career retrospective playing "This Bed is Getting Crowded" off of Street Songs of Love followed by "Teenage Luggage" off his collaboration with Italy's Don Antonio, The Crossing. Escovedo took the opportunity to mention how he was looking forward to returning to Italy later this year to work on another project with his friend Don Antonio.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alejandro dedicated the next number, Ian Hunter's "I Wish I was your Mother" to his doctor. The performance was especially poignant in light of the fact that his doctor (who saved his life) recently lost his mother and this was her favorite song of Alejandro's.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was at this point that the house lights came up and the trio ventured out into the audience to play a 3 song acoustic set of "Something Blue", "San Antonio Rain" and a song he rarely plays live "Last to Know". Below are a snippet from "San Antonio Rain" and the full "Last to Know".</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ei142lHHa9s" width="320" youtube-src-id="Ei142lHHa9s"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6D7KM-lsZW0" width="320" youtube-src-id="6D7KM-lsZW0"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Following the acoustic set the band returned to the stage and kicked off with one of the nights highlights, a powerful rendition of "Sally was a Cop". After being relegated to a tambourine the previous three numbers Henne was chomping at the bit to get back to his drum kit. You can see why Escovedo picked him to play in his band. The Austin transplant and native Philadelphian propulsive syncopated drumming was exactly what the song called for. It also helps to have a solid harmony singer in addition to being a great drummer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJEWMhJvPJSHBVqmrl6K92Jgg3Bu2kji4wdo61eeNQEvqghNN6t4xo0-0GUwxrGuiz5mTcQ6ws-QnI73JAK6b0O6ECFX9q7OFYdMFKCrl3q3Uc8R1BdDnJcBJvSUqu8kakSqTbYJ8AaekkKdjThjoY-PTGYrCeeeFTdPV2Xg2NMr1pA_-xjbC6rnwAA/s311/scottdanbom%20ae%20trio%20dakota.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="240" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJEWMhJvPJSHBVqmrl6K92Jgg3Bu2kji4wdo61eeNQEvqghNN6t4xo0-0GUwxrGuiz5mTcQ6ws-QnI73JAK6b0O6ECFX9q7OFYdMFKCrl3q3Uc8R1BdDnJcBJvSUqu8kakSqTbYJ8AaekkKdjThjoY-PTGYrCeeeFTdPV2Xg2NMr1pA_-xjbC6rnwAA/w240-h311/scottdanbom%20ae%20trio%20dakota.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ImUWwv5WzZSW9b2B5B65SKp0MxbB7IDrYB3-emOyn7GqYUtzOLM_FpXmaTsFTnfOs0ZGw10BBI3yzWDF9ZZ7miL3E5vdlQYbxOWvCHAek9QLEJfHWKTyX-wx4WHey2IudI5mjIOtjolCm3OvYg_7HRLf671bXS7ofLtEawUUKLsdDFhPKWNV7EOqMA/s4032/Scott%20Danbom.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ImUWwv5WzZSW9b2B5B65SKp0MxbB7IDrYB3-emOyn7GqYUtzOLM_FpXmaTsFTnfOs0ZGw10BBI3yzWDF9ZZ7miL3E5vdlQYbxOWvCHAek9QLEJfHWKTyX-wx4WHey2IudI5mjIOtjolCm3OvYg_7HRLf671bXS7ofLtEawUUKLsdDFhPKWNV7EOqMA/w300-h400/Scott%20Danbom.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlx32XisoUrXqeW4by5E5GDyRy6y45Xh0DRiEzyMglypYAJh45eafLihMPuefIEI6z9AhGtgj_J9v0FpSkKiKPtRX24pgUYb_9SWxWCcPRb1qN61xEJWjm1bu53cHEzWX7gfiIODFkv9pslWLW0fAmJpPCISrgENJpQ3OGdwlYxQRfFkCvXJYbSTvdw/s4032/IMG-4870.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlx32XisoUrXqeW4by5E5GDyRy6y45Xh0DRiEzyMglypYAJh45eafLihMPuefIEI6z9AhGtgj_J9v0FpSkKiKPtRX24pgUYb_9SWxWCcPRb1qN61xEJWjm1bu53cHEzWX7gfiIODFkv9pslWLW0fAmJpPCISrgENJpQ3OGdwlYxQRfFkCvXJYbSTvdw/w480-h640/IMG-4870.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next up was "Too Many Tears" before a clever reworking of his closest thing to a hit single "Always a Friend" which he transformed into a medley with Smokey's "Tracks of My Tears" and "Lively Up". No Escovedo show would be complete without "Castanets" after which he took an extended break causing many in the crowd to to think the night was over. He rewarded those who stuck around with a heartfelt "Sister Lost Soul" dedicated to all his friends who have left us too soon before ending on a punk rock note with "Chelsea Hotel 78". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PxmwSqZQu8A" width="320" youtube-src-id="PxmwSqZQu8A"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Later this summer Alejandro, Nancy and their two dogs are renting an RV and driving to Calgary. Normally this would be a beautiful road trip but sadly there are currently approximately 400 forest fires raging across Canada. I pray this turns out better than their Honeymoon when they were stranded in a hurricane down in Baja. Please be safe and we will be praying for rain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittqBgV4WR9EKxRCE9zaMR0T6kQ_4qvYTClD3NwP1rfsMm8oOS3-IYGlp0CMmUDdC5zNPnpAu6OLWANGOfPcb6LkL6O4RMqayJsVb-VCP4AHHFtRuk6BGp924xqzJyU3r6PaOUZ9Pz2J9rZuEzCHsH8b3w9WZOHG_2X7HFtz6mfuOVmh6vBqrZPLlkOQ/s4032/IMG-4858%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittqBgV4WR9EKxRCE9zaMR0T6kQ_4qvYTClD3NwP1rfsMm8oOS3-IYGlp0CMmUDdC5zNPnpAu6OLWANGOfPcb6LkL6O4RMqayJsVb-VCP4AHHFtRuk6BGp924xqzJyU3r6PaOUZ9Pz2J9rZuEzCHsH8b3w9WZOHG_2X7HFtz6mfuOVmh6vBqrZPLlkOQ/w240-h320/IMG-4858%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYce-yzouhGJNIdtddKDNxEltSt1xtGFFttT2syWdOCTQWOV9cugnlHDnfDq0Y5o1sJvtmHOAjnxhk9LBVOA5elyQgtXRiSARFeV1TBinlArUEyPVncO8m13LOEaU2phdWvQKL2qarYdV8ZSJ3121kPHZqK0UwZ4EYmGMmhUJT-x7f3GqlajtUh822A/s4032/IMG-4860.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYce-yzouhGJNIdtddKDNxEltSt1xtGFFttT2syWdOCTQWOV9cugnlHDnfDq0Y5o1sJvtmHOAjnxhk9LBVOA5elyQgtXRiSARFeV1TBinlArUEyPVncO8m13LOEaU2phdWvQKL2qarYdV8ZSJ3121kPHZqK0UwZ4EYmGMmhUJT-x7f3GqlajtUh822A/s320/IMG-4860.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fITVy9zbb9vToH1LnurmsBozuvekrBQXRJwkPAYz9ft50asYz_eCbNSb4827rrn9yjiw-8zE-1s3VXTsLM_6lapRQ3_hzH0eRLXHN3tpeZFjPveVY9PYe5BQIUWeFoOaC_aDYHQS0iYG1roxJDSvUqjmpT_dq_FRjZ446rszDrVMHj8cRSmOItUMdw/s4032/AE%20setlist.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fITVy9zbb9vToH1LnurmsBozuvekrBQXRJwkPAYz9ft50asYz_eCbNSb4827rrn9yjiw-8zE-1s3VXTsLM_6lapRQ3_hzH0eRLXHN3tpeZFjPveVY9PYe5BQIUWeFoOaC_aDYHQS0iYG1roxJDSvUqjmpT_dq_FRjZ446rszDrVMHj8cRSmOItUMdw/w480-h640/AE%20setlist.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-29824971672843092152023-05-26T05:30:00.324-05:002023-05-27T15:09:39.882-05:00Curtis Salgado Band at KJ's Hideaway, St. Paul, MN Make Magical Music Memories<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9ASzqQVnBzvL0Wu-qrx9dDV-GeXGYxB82Td4pOjgScwqa3jY6tkU3-W_NfrrFGOfyHqMk4DLWvKWDQNxpQtgcGC0iFdPCe08zpcyywVpIzkKhJdigiV5VVyFXAIqtpiN1Y9jO1DOjoJqYZv7RwWFWNh634ohyKqZNjcjHy2giUIkvsP-AhtLONejvw/s4032/salgadobass).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9ASzqQVnBzvL0Wu-qrx9dDV-GeXGYxB82Td4pOjgScwqa3jY6tkU3-W_NfrrFGOfyHqMk4DLWvKWDQNxpQtgcGC0iFdPCe08zpcyywVpIzkKhJdigiV5VVyFXAIqtpiN1Y9jO1DOjoJqYZv7RwWFWNh634ohyKqZNjcjHy2giUIkvsP-AhtLONejvw/w480-h640/salgadobass).jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>If there is a better band on the circuit today I have yet to hear them. The immensely talented and ever affable Curtis Salgado brought his crack band into the intimate confines of KJ's Hideaway in downtown St. Paul on a Friday night in May. When they were done, the audience was left with a thoroughly satisfying evening of good music performed to a "T" and delivered with humor and context that only comes from an authentic soul survivor of the Bar Wars. </p><p>Perhaps most remarkable is the level of Salgado's game these days. At a time when audiences have come to expect that when they go to see one of their music legends that they will be at some stage of diminished capacity. That is clearly not the case with Salgado or his guitarist Alan Hager, both of whom are performing at the peak of their music prowess. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCAMfQL1VuN-aQMaQtNUSUWVhyyvzQEnDuqJ5ut-QO7hCYmB7YunNgAuaSXVW2H7wrKfC_hICcKIAQcG0cA3jfRSMstOThn9FcfFebLEAEl-Ll6yL8XJOJkng-lJOSulWxXBlCra0QFhtroebMjtqpq1k7BiJ8QDyEWDnYOpRL39kJITWCsACsQS5cg/s4032/alan%20hager%205%2026%2023.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCAMfQL1VuN-aQMaQtNUSUWVhyyvzQEnDuqJ5ut-QO7hCYmB7YunNgAuaSXVW2H7wrKfC_hICcKIAQcG0cA3jfRSMstOThn9FcfFebLEAEl-Ll6yL8XJOJkng-lJOSulWxXBlCra0QFhtroebMjtqpq1k7BiJ8QDyEWDnYOpRL39kJITWCsACsQS5cg/s320/alan%20hager%205%2026%2023.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I can't say enough about Mr. Hager's guitar playing. Perfect tone, economic riffs with subtle embellishments that covers the range of styles from cool jazz to nasty slide to flat-out rock n roll and delivered in such a nonchalant, effortless manner that belies its difficulty and complexity. Watching Hager play last night I couldn't help but think of Denny Freeman, the king of taste, tone and effortless playing. Salgado has found the perfect foil in Hager both as a player and songwriter.</p><p>Surrounding them is an excellent rhythm section of younger but seasoned pros: Patrick Seals on drums, John Walcott on bass and Gabe Plotkin on keyboards. Plotkin, who was just on his second gig with the band, was the consummate pro nailing even the more difficult material like his Booker/Fess inspired solo on "Hail Mighty Caesar".</p><p>Throughout the night Salgado maintained a conversation with his audience setting up each number with context or an interesting anecdote. His taste in material was impeccable; appealing to music geeks as well as the casual listener. Salgado won over the geeks early in his first set with the Syl Johnson cover Star Bright, Star Lite:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/St9nyIv9cyY" width="320" youtube-src-id="St9nyIv9cyY"></iframe></div><br /><p>Other notable cover material included OV Wright's "Born All Over", Little Milton's "I Found Me a New Love" featuring stinging guitar work by Alan Hager and a powerful performance of Big Joe Williams "Baby Please Don't Go".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAjtkRTuwN_wtSHZ27AQ0OlDBhUjJrM6q3UyASsBbi4ktb8j_GWGVdmzqLZRdL_op11MaCXEF5a7tAjqFvRJNjgtw8yvMDJFCZL-PGCOXXC0JFsP2wrjg7-e0xWP2mbhB8tE-0O_rk9ECTYx2jMxE9wMQPhK1N9Mi93JJe7sDLd8hqWGSQsn5XG9_VQ/s4032/hager%20left.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAjtkRTuwN_wtSHZ27AQ0OlDBhUjJrM6q3UyASsBbi4ktb8j_GWGVdmzqLZRdL_op11MaCXEF5a7tAjqFvRJNjgtw8yvMDJFCZL-PGCOXXC0JFsP2wrjg7-e0xWP2mbhB8tE-0O_rk9ECTYx2jMxE9wMQPhK1N9Mi93JJe7sDLd8hqWGSQsn5XG9_VQ/s320/hager%20left.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p> He hit my favorite selections off his latest CD, the phenomenal "Damage Control" performing "Count of Three" after prefacing it with a "Five Royals" story and for all the criminal defense attorneys like me, "Your Gonna Miss My Sorry Ass" which is a big hit with some of my clients.</p><p>Curtis was in fine form and clearly enjoying himself even taking a request of one of most popular songs, "I Want My Dog to Live Longer". Special mention goes out to the band's roadmanager/soundman who sat next to me most of the night. What I took for an ipad was actually the new digital handheld version of a soundboard and they must work as the sound was excellent all night. For the night's final selection Curtis ventured out into the audience to emphasize his gratitude for the very appreciative audience. All in all the Curtis Salgado Band delivered one of the most enjoyable evenings of music that this writer has experienced in a very long time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuR9fZh19cxGzrpvUB_aczySyhAdR4lXgyGTdqOeok7X1seVHl_u3YIEJxEPO65F7wNLAa1bCxfjznFqD9TKVuM47NsBICyMVZoVt04UIlV8nbE_oCFpjzTAEiVbJHQzS9QcSKD_NgiZdagOPyErUvKHs3QwHTGGjUJh__c-8NNnOo5Qtkj6xmbbdrg/s4032/Image.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuR9fZh19cxGzrpvUB_aczySyhAdR4lXgyGTdqOeok7X1seVHl_u3YIEJxEPO65F7wNLAa1bCxfjznFqD9TKVuM47NsBICyMVZoVt04UIlV8nbE_oCFpjzTAEiVbJHQzS9QcSKD_NgiZdagOPyErUvKHs3QwHTGGjUJh__c-8NNnOo5Qtkj6xmbbdrg/s320/Image.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToKjd9-3mI-oCCdaAhMBEZ1zHVN8VzOsRUjivDoq7uqLHYCpf-44RyVVG24AlDWNxHrDYOl4k2Dcxq1QHU4RcgFRRkGYe25y6kaDj-ESfh7vLyGSnIKqZCKsXsHn0nmlR0yXPWY_dVtQ1DU6nxWyKmyuTLW4kSN14whgY9oqI47Mr89IdzD01ycQ6vg/s4032/salgado%20in%20audience.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToKjd9-3mI-oCCdaAhMBEZ1zHVN8VzOsRUjivDoq7uqLHYCpf-44RyVVG24AlDWNxHrDYOl4k2Dcxq1QHU4RcgFRRkGYe25y6kaDj-ESfh7vLyGSnIKqZCKsXsHn0nmlR0yXPWY_dVtQ1DU6nxWyKmyuTLW4kSN14whgY9oqI47Mr89IdzD01ycQ6vg/w480-h640/salgado%20in%20audience.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This was my first show at KJ's Hideaway but I will be back if they keep booking acts like Salgado which are ideal for smaller venues. It is nice to go to a venue with a relaxing atmosphere like KJ's with its low-key friendly staff, good beer selection (cocktails and wine as well) and decent menu.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-76383267502279138142023-04-27T09:13:00.001-05:002023-05-27T05:29:30.454-05:00Minnesota Gives Blues Legend A Fond Farewell<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJwlKROdnUChOReJZN1-1n4rmZLHvKnJoNYhzFEE-9Ph-7oKRi81x-p_v6y2-TdqxXSVFjHCABJh4gplMpjNm-idRDYy4X4OSiLc-Qzb7Gs3tkCyjH9Rtvqi-SBAKpvqdZeuFY8Ob63VHga8IBo5tIgOS4zHSrXpRdeuF0LZw2tr4xghBYaQ2HKH_PA/s4032/IMG_4739.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJwlKROdnUChOReJZN1-1n4rmZLHvKnJoNYhzFEE-9Ph-7oKRi81x-p_v6y2-TdqxXSVFjHCABJh4gplMpjNm-idRDYy4X4OSiLc-Qzb7Gs3tkCyjH9Rtvqi-SBAKpvqdZeuFY8Ob63VHga8IBo5tIgOS4zHSrXpRdeuF0LZw2tr4xghBYaQ2HKH_PA/w640-h480/IMG_4739.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">April 27, 2023. Mystic Lake Showroom</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Minnesota Blues fans gathered to pay their respects to one of the last truly great blues artists still on the circuit. It is pretty much just Bobby Rush and Buddy Guy left from the greatest generation of blues artists that migrated up from the South to Chicago to break into blues scene. Buddy seemed to emphasis the point with his selections of material.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Mr. Guy opened with a rousing version of his signature song, “Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues”. It was immediately apparent he hadn’t lost his guitar playing prowess. Right before segueing into his next song, he looked out into the audience and said “I hope everybody here likes the blues because if you don’t you came to the wrong fucking house!” Buddy then says “Next I’m gonna play something so funky you can smell it stink!” Launching into ...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-17242016555578244442023-01-16T16:22:00.001-06:002023-01-19T23:42:09.968-06:00The Passing of a Legendary Blues Guitarist<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QL1LK84PehiIFj8hTLxuUYmoHR6ul-kMhkxWaNUo8VLaJhl38Pdxk3dt-RnxGC4rM78HKZDSiRaqE-J3A5uKII-8z3oyW3mRoEaqsjOOUAfh3NecDjgM1RZVAhUh9MBN9JpAcvBF2Rh3wORLvXjPsNFxCgSqsbetPXzaXoVdBg6eMnUvUqKAc-TT9Q/s953/Luther%20Johnson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="953" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QL1LK84PehiIFj8hTLxuUYmoHR6ul-kMhkxWaNUo8VLaJhl38Pdxk3dt-RnxGC4rM78HKZDSiRaqE-J3A5uKII-8z3oyW3mRoEaqsjOOUAfh3NecDjgM1RZVAhUh9MBN9JpAcvBF2Rh3wORLvXjPsNFxCgSqsbetPXzaXoVdBg6eMnUvUqKAc-TT9Q/w640-h414/Luther%20Johnson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing on Christmas Day of Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson. Perhaps most famous for being a long time member of Muddy Waters Band and later the Legendary Blues Band, Luther also fronted his own band, the Magic Rockers based in the Northeast United States. In addition to his recordings with the Muddy Waters and Legendary Blues Bands, Johnson had an extensive discography both as the main artist but appearing as a guest artist as well. Johnson's guest appearance on the Nighthawks critically acclaimed "Jacks and Kings Sessions" garnered a grammy nomination. Luther's unique sound, a combination of hard-edged Chicago blues and southern (Memphis) soul made for compelling live performances of which there were many. Lovingly known as "Gunther" by some of his Magic Rockers band members for his sometimes manic driving behavior on tour, Luther was old school as in the "show must go on". Luther had a sense of humor too. A long time sufferer of diabetis, Johnson titled one of his album's "Doin' the Sugar Too". For the uninitiated I would recommend that excellent cd as well as "Slammin' the West Side" both with his band the Magic Rockers.<p></p><div>Below is a gem of a video courtesy Ferrini Productions YouTube Channel shot at the Nightstage Club in Cambridge, MA. Luther starts with a rousing version of Come Baby with Ron Levy on piano and Jerry Portnoy on harp. Later Luther brings up on stage Pinetop Perkins. Great performances and interviews all around!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z8kTmiVLoo8" width="320" youtube-src-id="Z8kTmiVLoo8"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-43672416586573740332022-08-24T15:18:00.000-05:002022-08-24T15:18:06.801-05:00Antone's 47th Anniversary Shows: Anson Funderburgh, Sugar Ray Norcia, Lou Ann Barton, Bob Margolin & Roomful Horns<div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">July 14, 2022</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxtI2tC_zu1fle8wheDg5qhJ_B_fb-y3HXyfFpFvAqvP00CRRp6RFFkd6vwVvOJZmyJrbgCu3wbC-36wIx2XfAyE8_77z-kJAOYx7vxCDPNs9bXeT1QPuZw6WSvTbm3ItEr2SoV7cQlrDGeqSGgEyzTpsbgHXiSc8MFYXlvQSVOK4ddRhPz7ASxOb7A/s1263/IMG_E4186.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1263" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxtI2tC_zu1fle8wheDg5qhJ_B_fb-y3HXyfFpFvAqvP00CRRp6RFFkd6vwVvOJZmyJrbgCu3wbC-36wIx2XfAyE8_77z-kJAOYx7vxCDPNs9bXeT1QPuZw6WSvTbm3ItEr2SoV7cQlrDGeqSGgEyzTpsbgHXiSc8MFYXlvQSVOK4ddRhPz7ASxOb7A/w630-h640/IMG_E4186.JPG" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Qnx8AQ4wPd2Q8DofKfLYy0gamn3JGpO_sOxl8ToXTPbJBXoDRi09x_G6lG02zH4W67KprOLgDb5HbHfhmdS2MvPPNw__70S8TzgWWtvLEXGSjmEYP2UIWV24lERL5ayrEJyjgO0n1RTj0Qj8irjrnIY-6t1H2G0HBD5yQ8X5TTSuKy6L28jXkK4XKw/s1814/IMG_E4171.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="1242" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Qnx8AQ4wPd2Q8DofKfLYy0gamn3JGpO_sOxl8ToXTPbJBXoDRi09x_G6lG02zH4W67KprOLgDb5HbHfhmdS2MvPPNw__70S8TzgWWtvLEXGSjmEYP2UIWV24lERL5ayrEJyjgO0n1RTj0Qj8irjrnIY-6t1H2G0HBD5yQ8X5TTSuKy6L28jXkK4XKw/s320/IMG_E4171.JPG" width="219" /></a></div>The city, Austin. Breakfast? Just grab a couple of eggs and find a clean stretch of sidewalk and decide between sunnyside up or over-easy. Another day of 110 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. I decide to ditch breakfast completely for a midafternoon outing to the shrine of brisket cuisine, Franklin's Bar-B-Q. A pound of brisket, 2 sides and a couple of Shiner Bocks later and I understand the meaning of King Khan & the BBQ's "Waddle Around" intimately.<div><br /></div><div>I uber back to my bat cave for that Southwestern tradition, the siesta. Did I say bat cave? Chicken coop would be more accurate. Not for the accommodations, but rather, the cacophony of chicken noise that greets you at dawn every morning as every household near my Air BnB seems to own roosters.</div><div><br /></div><div>Feeling renewed and refreshed from an air conditioned nap, I am ready to face another night of great music and libations at Antoneland.</div><div><br /></div><div> Being a creature of habit I take the short uber trip down to South Sixth Street determined to get corroboration for my side project: The alleged musician brawl at the 12 Anniversary Show the night of July 16, 1987 . That would make this the 35th Anniversary of the alleged brawl between blues legends over who played second to last (i.e. just before the headliner). </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6Kw2MILrz0p--BSG7bQmV4M9BZO_Rf7DKAODz8OHr5raUANNWGE-MoqsZP4ceyakzKd6YsxgKWzbNd620iMWsYg5dPYZ2-OMgjCZg2vMWBHCLMQm4xD9ZpgBVFG8-iMFvKvNpweybDRD7ERbVaA28dcHdmawrWAD0snwuaP3TEdBeZiJOjpxNwHQ8Q/s4032/IMG_4011.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6Kw2MILrz0p--BSG7bQmV4M9BZO_Rf7DKAODz8OHr5raUANNWGE-MoqsZP4ceyakzKd6YsxgKWzbNd620iMWsYg5dPYZ2-OMgjCZg2vMWBHCLMQm4xD9ZpgBVFG8-iMFvKvNpweybDRD7ERbVaA28dcHdmawrWAD0snwuaP3TEdBeZiJOjpxNwHQ8Q/s320/IMG_4011.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ItiUSmNuiKAFncju7jMAM9LnVEBPaZ9Bd5E2vQrGmS-HmIYSvI3K6PbeG0-ldJDNj1ddfo_vP5A3feYfBBmRICmS0C7bobi_dp4t5s7Z7O-zhFPVH31-dXahiKCPFM7HldXogHZrDjgZm1gWwo2bKxgwsKq2PBd54Bk7VPdwL3EnPuOObwejThs89Q/s4032/IMG_4015.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ItiUSmNuiKAFncju7jMAM9LnVEBPaZ9Bd5E2vQrGmS-HmIYSvI3K6PbeG0-ldJDNj1ddfo_vP5A3feYfBBmRICmS0C7bobi_dp4t5s7Z7O-zhFPVH31-dXahiKCPFM7HldXogHZrDjgZm1gWwo2bKxgwsKq2PBd54Bk7VPdwL3EnPuOObwejThs89Q/s320/IMG_4015.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknY-kmv-BHSwnPu2KKG6jnUy60qhYziqng3YaP77E492Bjc_cZ-QFYwNZjjriBRdvSJVqRnfMA1vUq9V0Hi-reYl0kxQdAMrp8Ew3VKIU3hc7KrV9UbbB7E-_Ujt9ARudO2W_wMWpouNU2ICBJr1VaXxZbosg1lcDmz4G5pvgNjV2D1uyRr1YFRyazg/s4032/IMG_4023.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bc_EbarS0Vc" width="320" youtube-src-id="bc_EbarS0Vc"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QAM5rWsIwkU" width="320" youtube-src-id="QAM5rWsIwkU"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-81809212489589529042022-08-17T16:34:00.001-05:002022-08-18T02:28:29.191-05:00Antone's 47th Anniversary Shows: Johnny Nicholas and Friends Turn Antone's Into a Louisiana Roadhouse <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">July 13, 2022</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegpc1hSNgvUxQMbQU9366b0XtDtxsLdIRMbZ3JryfN_zV5XjNFBpvv_YwDdKMxUStZW_dQntQKzoXuAjIO_EDluNfybjEXWuynlXcS6fVv7WON67Kj9DY5PWYr0dirZhpQaU-wqh0suDsjyy2gWi2gN_lE5qAyAwXDx5C5bDVXvGorpDGWBimpLtnzg/s1184/IMG_4062.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="780" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegpc1hSNgvUxQMbQU9366b0XtDtxsLdIRMbZ3JryfN_zV5XjNFBpvv_YwDdKMxUStZW_dQntQKzoXuAjIO_EDluNfybjEXWuynlXcS6fVv7WON67Kj9DY5PWYr0dirZhpQaU-wqh0suDsjyy2gWi2gN_lE5qAyAwXDx5C5bDVXvGorpDGWBimpLtnzg/w422-h640/IMG_4062.PNG" width="422" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a phenomenal night for midcentury Louisiana music Wednesday night as Johnny Nicholas and his band the Westerlys moved state borders that night putting Antone's smack dab in the middle of Louisiana.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Was there a rip in the fabric of space time Wednesday night in Austin, Texas? Some physicists are theorizing that a wormhole or portal may have appeared in the vicinity of Antone's Nightclub. Those fortunate enough to have entered the club that night were teleported back in time to when Louisiana music ruled supreme. The key to the music's appeal was all in its tone. Tone was everything. When it comes to authentic midcentury Louisiana music no one around understands it better than Texas blues guitarist and former Asleep at the Wheel singer/musician Johnny Nicholas. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So just how does a Greek kid from Rhode Island become a legend in Texas blues and western swing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7f8mX2aQBB1ZA5V89BiCAtUQVJoPp5ZOZNiRjICwWf7BmQnj7WMhQbrloUmYncEpGeChqf3GKYaV5iMY_3QH9nJjW7PAvItGcCKCXvoVtOQhrmElgpo-w9Vojw9O30d6ZOE_Zz-PJPJ8Idk5L2SKeHuDCwZyn8MpSlsNGqr6-FoR_Gb6_Gv81sN0qQ/s350/JohnnyNicholas-2018Web-3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7f8mX2aQBB1ZA5V89BiCAtUQVJoPp5ZOZNiRjICwWf7BmQnj7WMhQbrloUmYncEpGeChqf3GKYaV5iMY_3QH9nJjW7PAvItGcCKCXvoVtOQhrmElgpo-w9Vojw9O30d6ZOE_Zz-PJPJ8Idk5L2SKeHuDCwZyn8MpSlsNGqr6-FoR_Gb6_Gv81sN0qQ/w200-h200/JohnnyNicholas-2018Web-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>music? The answer is complicated but it all comes down to one thing, Providence, son. "Providence?" But what about Westerly? And don't call me "son"! "Fuck Westerly!" someone yells from the crowd. That is about all I can remember before everything went black. Seriously, if I were to ask Johnny about it I suppose he would describe his lifelong infatuation with Louisiana and the brief time he spent there as a child all played a role in shaping his career. Personally, I prefer to believe in the rip in space time theory, so we'll call it a draw. (The only reason I bring up Mr. Nicholas' Greek heritage is when I was speaking with Doug James a week before the show I told him that I was so impressed with Johnny Nicholas he had become something of a god to me and Doug quipped "...you mean a Greek God". Before I booked my trip to see the Antone's Anniversary Shows I was not all that familiar with Mr. Nicholas other than he had great taste in material and musicians he worked with. But after doing a deep dive into his career and catalog, his show became my raison d'etre for making the trip.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"...there was a time, not in the too far distant past, when there were more itinerate musicians from Providence washing up on the shores of the Guadalupe River than tech rich Californians. "</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0PfIG2yz_3SiSDvuAQ43GwVAOW40e5qZNll5bDp43u2ixY3Fchp0BIfzi7C8TfQ6kDoZElWBCUrfrOASzLSlybKWuvjkoq9jv44sApXA6_JFuPvu8UOtn_Msi10oHaKjJbRS8ApMHihV7kyjsMNevr6JEdVtMtJL3UE1nh0DSZYt2cZxphurkBbCDw/s367/Greg%20Piccolo%20Doug%20James.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="212" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0PfIG2yz_3SiSDvuAQ43GwVAOW40e5qZNll5bDp43u2ixY3Fchp0BIfzi7C8TfQ6kDoZElWBCUrfrOASzLSlybKWuvjkoq9jv44sApXA6_JFuPvu8UOtn_Msi10oHaKjJbRS8ApMHihV7kyjsMNevr6JEdVtMtJL3UE1nh0DSZYt2cZxphurkBbCDw/s320/Greg%20Piccolo%20Doug%20James.jpg" width="185" /></a></div>By the "Westerlys", I am , of course, jokingly referring to Doug James and Greg Piccolo, original members of the Roomful Horns and just part of that underground railroad of Providence musicians who helped put Austin on the blues music map. What? Roomful of Thunderbirds? Get outta here! No, you get outta here. Truth be told, there was a time, not in the too far distant past, when there were more itinerate musicians from Providence washing up on the shores of the Guadalupe River then tech rich Californians. Fran Christina, Preston Hubbard, Junior Brantley, Duke Robillard and that's just some of the Roomful of Blues / Fabulous Thunderbirds cross pollination. Then there was the legendary collaboration between Stevie Ray Vaughn and the full, classic version of the Roomful Horn section featuring Porky Cohen, Ritch Latille and Bubba Enos, in addition to Mr. Low and the Pic that appeared along with the Vaughn brothers on <a href="https://youtu.be/-U-kCMSq9H8" target="_blank">Stevie's Carnegie Hall Live</a> LP.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But my favorite collaboration between Rhode Island and Texas are Johnny Nicholas' big band records with the Texas Allstars. His 2006 record, "Big Band Bash, Rhythms for Rio" featuring Greg Piccolo and produced by Steven Bruton contains a killer version of Bobby Charles (aka Robert Guidry)'s <a href="https://youtu.be/AjuaofXfLkM" target="_blank">"Before I Grow Too Old"</a>. On a different album Nicholas did with the Texas Allstars, "Rocking My Blues to Sleep," Johnny does my favorite version of <a href="https://youtu.be/NuALFjXxnM8" target="_blank">"The Hustle Is On"</a> and considering the competition (e.g. T-Bones Walker's original and Kim Wilson's) that is saying a lot!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I arrived at the "new" Antone's a little before the doors opened so I went into Big Henry's Record Shop next door to kill some time. This became my modus operandi all 3 shows I attended. To call Big Henry's a record shop would be a misnomer. More like a boutique of rare blues, soul and local musician vinyl records in amazing condition for their age. The young woman behind the counter my first night there was very helpful and knowledgeable about music. Precisely the kind of person you would want running your music establishment and I am not just saying that because she complimented me on my WFMU cap. "You know about WFMU?" was my startled response. For the uninitiated, WFMU is a free form radio station broadcasting over the airwaves from New Jersey to metropolitan New York and the rest of the world via the internet. Woof-Mu boasts one of the best accessible archives of past shows and serves as an important educational resource for aspiring musicians and music aficionados in general.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Enough with the digressions, let's get to the music.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tone was dripping off the ceiling at Antone's Nightclub tonight.</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The night got off to an auspicious start even before the performers took the stage. The wonderful selection of taped music played through the club's PA literally set the <i>tone</i> for what was to come. Tone was dripping off the ceiling at Antone's Nightclub tonight. AnTone, bon Tone, roulette anyone? I'm so confused. If you loved the tone on the old Excello 45s by Guitar Slim and Slim Harpo or anything recorded at Cosimo Matassa's J & M studios you would have thought you had died and gone to heaven.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Johnny Nicholas took the stage, starting out on keyboards for one of his best tunes and title track from his 2006 record, "Broke Again", accompanied by his hand picked band (Scrappy Jud Newcomb on guitar, Chris Maresh on bass and Jordan Cook on drums) which grew larger and more varied as the night progressed. Next up was another original from that album, "My Rice Ain't Got No Gravy". Nicholas then told a great story about how he was inspired to write "Down in the Alley", his tribute to Austin legend Doug Sahm, by watching his distinctive walk late one night as he hung out in the alley following a gig.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you had to choose just one word to describe Johnny Nicholas the musician and the person, I would pick generosity. Here Nicholas had been given a platform at one of the legendary blues stages to showcase his talents and promote his career, which he absolutely did. But he also used the opportunity to share the stage and spread the wealth with deserving musicians while educating the audience with the history of the local music scene and by exposing them to artists and genres they might not otherwise cross paths with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdNpy_6kfRV4oX9HJveuAhZBTcZMnoAqS19FqhikGS9ZLELiymSozsv3wRxw5yGpvc86w3StMwM-HbQ80bgomzggaq8K4-6QeI2wLICGS0V8kAey1FkBOExGH4yMzzRyJpFrKDDuM0jmv_Q2iDedJ72zqdXsAR_QcfVDIXXk_xNHOeGir_xCfZ3GqyQ/s4032/IMG_3977.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdNpy_6kfRV4oX9HJveuAhZBTcZMnoAqS19FqhikGS9ZLELiymSozsv3wRxw5yGpvc86w3StMwM-HbQ80bgomzggaq8K4-6QeI2wLICGS0V8kAey1FkBOExGH4yMzzRyJpFrKDDuM0jmv_Q2iDedJ72zqdXsAR_QcfVDIXXk_xNHOeGir_xCfZ3GqyQ/w300-h400/IMG_3977.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Johnny Nicholas, Scrappy Jud Newcomb, Ruben Ramos</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Case in point, Johnny's first special guest, Tejano music legend and Grammy Award winner Ruben Ramos aka "El Gato Negro". Mr. Ramos looked and sounded great, showing no ill effects from triple bypass surgery earlier this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb7aQxLW2LNn-lv8Q2tWqTEGSCIpsjplMlzPD0G5EjMMo60GnJpntncfgXmdGlwzYY0XoGlGsft9JCrl1TGypMjVJuuC_fFAiyn4-iL77MF_zLteQckZj7_YG2czSM9gXVgrbG0pCaVyrxrZV2djxzG8tMgXCAgDcvEs2VSfw3PbeTXvqLtS3qMvgTw/s4032/IMG_3981.HEIC" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb7aQxLW2LNn-lv8Q2tWqTEGSCIpsjplMlzPD0G5EjMMo60GnJpntncfgXmdGlwzYY0XoGlGsft9JCrl1TGypMjVJuuC_fFAiyn4-iL77MF_zLteQckZj7_YG2czSM9gXVgrbG0pCaVyrxrZV2djxzG8tMgXCAgDcvEs2VSfw3PbeTXvqLtS3qMvgTw/s320/IMG_3981.HEIC" width="240" /></a>Joining Ramos onstage was a three woman choir and Nicholas' band expanded as well. Taking over from Nicholas on keyboards was Marcia Ball which freed up Johnny to play acoustic guitar and harp.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the set's highlights was a stirring version of "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5jw7uT1WVjOIMFCv6SySSHgWBvQR5KP08wreOsPYk9OPlzm0JCNacq1TrCpJMlL1oOFmNSe4OtgFF1SH9lb6IT7AtLKzqW8pSai_s7g7OwcyihCu0YUmCx01fMxxcBwDokMNWiITgiyh_IZyUImsbkK5rWi6LNjBaqb5sWXJ8aIL31y-xWyyld2msQ/s3024/IMG_3969%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="3024" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5jw7uT1WVjOIMFCv6SySSHgWBvQR5KP08wreOsPYk9OPlzm0JCNacq1TrCpJMlL1oOFmNSe4OtgFF1SH9lb6IT7AtLKzqW8pSai_s7g7OwcyihCu0YUmCx01fMxxcBwDokMNWiITgiyh_IZyUImsbkK5rWi6LNjBaqb5sWXJ8aIL31y-xWyyld2msQ/w640-h528/IMG_3969%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Marcia Ball continued the Louisiana theme with nods to Smiley Lewis and Fats. Johnny Nicholas was featured on harp for "Gotta Get You a Woman". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEI42hbjkLicGeO-7pbWYdMtkgleIHaH6UW6WuasuTrnwrTG3Qes1Oayc9G3ZMn5hsOPMprMEv7VTc0pyOWsTSvqiZmoSY1j2Hzg1F6ZsXhqwKXrlQMw_ATfPl9wOzAToLx49LmG01qRZlT9yaBst1jvGqpGgwS2_l0kRMlS62bjFGtqWiwR8JkfZ-Xg/s4032/IMG_3987.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEI42hbjkLicGeO-7pbWYdMtkgleIHaH6UW6WuasuTrnwrTG3Qes1Oayc9G3ZMn5hsOPMprMEv7VTc0pyOWsTSvqiZmoSY1j2Hzg1F6ZsXhqwKXrlQMw_ATfPl9wOzAToLx49LmG01qRZlT9yaBst1jvGqpGgwS2_l0kRMlS62bjFGtqWiwR8JkfZ-Xg/w480-h640/IMG_3987.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other Highlights from Marcia's set included a poignant "Louisiana 1927" before closing with a Little Richard number which made me think of Bob Bell and John Rossi.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AYx43njcuiN2QTpAR0yAEF8K3iD-vudpe59Lx_Peliur9Swomo6FZYodsrbKtD1ih-5rAeduASosm2PW_vQu86akf_LTz02GIw2MOzQd5RHELaN2s9Wd-go1WD5Nx-oihGIkcVH1qTQZuhl-FkHNecvC_ANw-r6PzGe7fHXeZiwe-FhT29bBDJc6RQ/s2072/IMG_3990%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="2072" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AYx43njcuiN2QTpAR0yAEF8K3iD-vudpe59Lx_Peliur9Swomo6FZYodsrbKtD1ih-5rAeduASosm2PW_vQu86akf_LTz02GIw2MOzQd5RHELaN2s9Wd-go1WD5Nx-oihGIkcVH1qTQZuhl-FkHNecvC_ANw-r6PzGe7fHXeZiwe-FhT29bBDJc6RQ/w400-h271/IMG_3990%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Scrappy Jud Newcomb, Anson Funderburgh, Jordon Cook and Marcia Ball</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Johnny Nicholas took back the helm and gave the audience a sneak preview of tomorrow night's show by bringing up Anson Funderburgh for a Lonesome Sundown cover, "I'm Glad she's Mine".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyJqOALZTLG52-_wmQ8JgM9zrti7ohc0qf0H8gY6t_Z9_Ab_J-OXAMpmQ6BnZRVjkBgcaB6lAxld-8cYCxprQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlW88jJpBYS90sfQ9bEmywIqDKqGy2XLOSnR147pb5PSfPg1qSPieNfjC2Cj7w2W_KFhv7oMKmeh19a_8JiVzKJ6cF3MD0xZUpb7Q3o6LQwN7UQgMsxAfQo9QnMdcnUMgit9brMsGTqSQKxFtXHW4rRImM8FJNL5T3TO0KftJ_6GuHNI5CTphQwKYkA/s4032/IMG_3992.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlW88jJpBYS90sfQ9bEmywIqDKqGy2XLOSnR147pb5PSfPg1qSPieNfjC2Cj7w2W_KFhv7oMKmeh19a_8JiVzKJ6cF3MD0xZUpb7Q3o6LQwN7UQgMsxAfQo9QnMdcnUMgit9brMsGTqSQKxFtXHW4rRImM8FJNL5T3TO0KftJ_6GuHNI5CTphQwKYkA/s320/IMG_3992.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> Johnny Nicholas<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The emphasis turned to harp for Sonny Boy's "So Sad to be Lonesome". Nicholas then brought out another of tomorrow night's headliners, Sugar Ray Norcia, who he practically mugged towards the end of his cameo. <br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CaOUo9j5pwefqeKb2iPjSIYLfcVbsR-yWrC7cNDPYYShACN3Edy7aUVdqcth5fyhbx5jr5nF5z-SO9MMXqp_E4zKTe6Y-mTfG4xf8p8S-lP808rbzJpVLoZkZnG3pF2OJJCn5aymtsIQOhmNtJmyMkjmeAgGbUvOcvLog4plak9YHoeO2kaOtHGy6A/s4032/IMG_3997.HEIC" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CaOUo9j5pwefqeKb2iPjSIYLfcVbsR-yWrC7cNDPYYShACN3Edy7aUVdqcth5fyhbx5jr5nF5z-SO9MMXqp_E4zKTe6Y-mTfG4xf8p8S-lP808rbzJpVLoZkZnG3pF2OJJCn5aymtsIQOhmNtJmyMkjmeAgGbUvOcvLog4plak9YHoeO2kaOtHGy6A/w240-h320/IMG_3997.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbLK-3XYVosp82vxhbhFnX5k5vgmTRD31LsEBZ_Vd7JRZxGvFAqxDMq8dNSEENId7HHtOc8mblKOhN_duv0FKES5w8tEncc9IB4VwCN7bdNIxuXcP-2IR2sbUlo3kHAGciWpMAw1ZvNU-v4hz_EOoP7GCgDixGbnpeGYTufMWGbYc3oHVFI6RzzAtEA/s4032/IMG_3995.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbLK-3XYVosp82vxhbhFnX5k5vgmTRD31LsEBZ_Vd7JRZxGvFAqxDMq8dNSEENId7HHtOc8mblKOhN_duv0FKES5w8tEncc9IB4VwCN7bdNIxuXcP-2IR2sbUlo3kHAGciWpMAw1ZvNU-v4hz_EOoP7GCgDixGbnpeGYTufMWGbYc3oHVFI6RzzAtEA/w240-h320/IMG_3995.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A personal favorite and fan request was up next, Bobby Charles' "Before I Grow Too Old" which show- cased two members of the original Roomful Horn section. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXZPk_g7_0p8BSvEYXVxAqkHq73ZU9Mnw9QCWEhBrA7gSynOc7c2RgLDUWfeMMfxwzsU3XuxMpGfnsROI6h2yrTfbhiT7oBY8s7o_M9NDvBUspZOtSC2Ly2qQbGMJmh4BN3-oy3H4TYqXZdltnxDOkpEmMgxsHbUX1MrjLtB5cUfjljR9UO8_ZM9tDQ/s311/Pic%20and%20Mr%20Low.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="182" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXZPk_g7_0p8BSvEYXVxAqkHq73ZU9Mnw9QCWEhBrA7gSynOc7c2RgLDUWfeMMfxwzsU3XuxMpGfnsROI6h2yrTfbhiT7oBY8s7o_M9NDvBUspZOtSC2Ly2qQbGMJmh4BN3-oy3H4TYqXZdltnxDOkpEmMgxsHbUX1MrjLtB5cUfjljR9UO8_ZM9tDQ/w234-h400/Pic%20and%20Mr%20Low.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><br />It was so good to see and hear Greg Piccolo's rich tenor alongside Doug James' classic baritone. I don't think there is a better two man sax section in the business and no one can touch them for midcentury Texas-Louisiana tone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Johnny called next a number the Roomful Horns knew very well, Earl King's "Those Lonely, Lonely Nights" which featured his guitarist Scrappy Jud Newcomb.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CFOhrl80hHmj4ri0Z6bhzBgPeekLm70qY65R7b6WFCz93JSs1mh0djKTvpl2mPeOORIQCjh39MZ-PnTMij8eWc2HR5ipwcHkAPg3fCmUzl3ArznB3I8zEGKxqn8Bc3yCPsSJ08mA15qJ0ec-6-Q4PviIFSYLNcCjZ4itDZJelGrIxkVx1dBH1-6lwQ/s4032/IMG_3984.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CFOhrl80hHmj4ri0Z6bhzBgPeekLm70qY65R7b6WFCz93JSs1mh0djKTvpl2mPeOORIQCjh39MZ-PnTMij8eWc2HR5ipwcHkAPg3fCmUzl3ArznB3I8zEGKxqn8Bc3yCPsSJ08mA15qJ0ec-6-Q4PviIFSYLNcCjZ4itDZJelGrIxkVx1dBH1-6lwQ/s320/IMG_3984.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nicholas shifted geography to Chicago for a story about Junior Wells and one of the Windy City's iconic blues bars, Theresa's, and putting $50 on the table before doing "Hoodoo Man's Blues".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And it wouldn't be a night of Louisiana music without Smiley Lewis' "Ain't Gonna Do it". It doesn't get any better than the Roomful Horns swinging hard and Marcia Ball's rollicking New Orleans piano.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Luckily Johnny still had enough time for one last story about Clifford and Big Walter Smith before bringing up Lou Ann Barton for one of her first live performances since the Covid pandemic for "Natural Woman".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all a great night for music and celebrating the anniversary of the founding of one this country's premier music clubs. I have to think Clifford would be proud of the way the new club has continued his legacy of fearlessly booking excellence not just what is popular.</div></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-77240318106390175832022-08-06T22:03:00.000-05:002022-08-06T22:03:33.443-05:00After 36 Years, Boy How Austin Has Changed!<p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> July 13, 2022 Austin, TX</span></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Austin's changed, it's true<br />Show me what hasn't<br />Tonight the TV's throwing colors on the wall<br />As watches cities of the world reduced to ashes<br />From where I sit, at the bottom of the world<br />Oh, there used to be a phone booth<br />Down here on every corner<br />He used to call me up just to say my name<br />But now anybody get is a busy signal<br />No I can't call home, from the bottom of the world...</i></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Alejandro Escovedo "Bottom of the World"</i></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first time I was in Austin was May of 1986. I had just graduated law school and rather than study for the bar I bought a brand new motorcycle and decided to live out one of my dreams. I was a huge music freak and thought how cool it would be to follow one of my favorite bands around the country before settling down to a squaresville legal career. In 1986 one of the hottest bands on the circuit was The Nighthawks. I first saw the Hawks in 1977 and have been a diehard fan ever since.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Over the next two weeks I followed the Hawks throughout the Mid and South West racking up over 4,000 miles. But of all the venues on their itinerary the one that intrigued me the most was the show at Antone's in Austin, Texas. To blues fans the stories of this club and its legendary owner had reached mythical proportions. So much so, in fact, that I distinctly remember what a let down it was as, based upon its profound influence on the blues music scene, I was expecting the Taj Mahal not a converted Pizza Hut or Country Kitchen. The physical layout of the modest club was not of importance. What impressed me was the passion its owner had for the music and his love for the musicians. I have to admit I was envious watching Clifford Antone introduce the band and hold court. The sheer joy that Antone exuded was so real and contagious it had me questioning what I was going to do with the rest of my working life. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Alas, not everyone has balls the size of Clifford Antone and certainly not me circa 1986. Despite the life changing motorcycle trip, I did return to Minneapolis and embarked on a legal career.</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevXQHQUcGVJWoFXWsBS0rI_Q2UtKaFNQNGQBeRXsAr4HdR2QdAoXJVyyMjxH5aBlfGBLIK-SjuXg_LO0hcRx27kGn79uf-nr20-Hr7MjUAs4uqn5UY-3clw4Jd2ZCVPfZK0i0Fpctpa4MGXgDxtDa7q5nZJ-_z92G8vCUHdsgKtokXGGFEsm_EvUxog/s1676/IMG_E4001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1676" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevXQHQUcGVJWoFXWsBS0rI_Q2UtKaFNQNGQBeRXsAr4HdR2QdAoXJVyyMjxH5aBlfGBLIK-SjuXg_LO0hcRx27kGn79uf-nr20-Hr7MjUAs4uqn5UY-3clw4Jd2ZCVPfZK0i0Fpctpa4MGXgDxtDa7q5nZJ-_z92G8vCUHdsgKtokXGGFEsm_EvUxog/w474-h640/IMG_E4001.JPG" width="474" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Thirty-six years later I am back in Austin. Just like my prior visit I came for the music and while the venue is again Antone's it is not the same location or owners. The good news is the physical amenities at the new location are a big improvement over the converted Pizza Hut and the new owners have done a remarkable job of capturing Clifford and Susan Antone's passion for the music. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The biggest difference between this trip and my trip 36 years ago is this time I flew. As much as I wanted to take my motorcycle to relive my youth, the high price of gas and the fact I am now 60 convinced me not to try and make a promise that my body can’t fill. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3Ia5sj_MP5rnff6kabnAO9BeKvB7EoAyRAodmhn6kCIBzBMEdz_r1lwTlOB91Y9EDlDfZjEkkc0iggmsgBU_zP9ddHB-b5vn0brvaXhxcLEs8H-sXDnjLGfYk-aQI_PhnjgN9eBZND-R4Wjsr2efrKFX5PyhCTEUKEOhzM2ow-hOPQuZRKOgybiVkw/s755/Driving%20to%20Austin%20map.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="424" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3Ia5sj_MP5rnff6kabnAO9BeKvB7EoAyRAodmhn6kCIBzBMEdz_r1lwTlOB91Y9EDlDfZjEkkc0iggmsgBU_zP9ddHB-b5vn0brvaXhxcLEs8H-sXDnjLGfYk-aQI_PhnjgN9eBZND-R4Wjsr2efrKFX5PyhCTEUKEOhzM2ow-hOPQuZRKOgybiVkw/s320/Driving%20to%20Austin%20map.JPG" width="180" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For once I would heed my daughter's sound advice, leave the motorcycle at home and have a nice relaxing 2 hour trip by air. As luck would have it I had booked airfare in the midst of one of the biggest airline meltdowns in history.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Since I was flying in the same day as my first show I was praying there wouldn't be any flight delays. Thankfully my darling daughter booked me on one of the first flights of the day out of Minneapolis, a nonstop on Delta and I arrived on time. With a half a day to kill and check in time at my AirBnB still hours away, I decided to take the metro bus into downtown Austin and catch a brisket lunch. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I had of course heard about the legendary Franklin's BBQ and saw that it was on 11th. I got off the bus by the state capitol and ventured off into the 110 degree Texas midday heat lugging 2 suitcases neither of which had wheels. God what I would have given for wheels on my luggage! After walking 5 blocks in the wrong direction I scrapped the idea of Franklin's for lunch and just wanted cold beer and air conditioning. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp5yD26TIgKZygUgN1tSXkwWVVj0o312iuqXzXrxxYwBKyHN9Ad-Dl2mZWy9uCXzoJFsxok_XBCn2B4WRUBxu2VGOZM0-ma8taPN2B8BlzitXMeYn6M5YxjzKUhYjmHDFpVr5nNgG_qGEPoqy2J_t2cEgATV_9rhchr9vmTBnAsKknLJynDgWJaKWnQ/s1080/littlewoodrow's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1080" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp5yD26TIgKZygUgN1tSXkwWVVj0o312iuqXzXrxxYwBKyHN9Ad-Dl2mZWy9uCXzoJFsxok_XBCn2B4WRUBxu2VGOZM0-ma8taPN2B8BlzitXMeYn6M5YxjzKUhYjmHDFpVr5nNgG_qGEPoqy2J_t2cEgATV_9rhchr9vmTBnAsKknLJynDgWJaKWnQ/w200-h185/littlewoodrow's.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">That's when I spotted a sign claiming they had the coldest beer in Austin. Sounds good to me. At Little Woodrow's I had a cold beer and a margarita and had a nice chat with Skyler the bartender about this year's Willie Nelson 4th of July picnic. I grabbed a taco from the food truck, called an Uber and made my way to my AirBnb. Shout out to my host Robbie for coming to my rescue after the Uber driver dropped me off at the wrong address. I had just enough time to shower and relax before heading to the show.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So what is my initial impression of Austin 36 years later? Well, it certainly is true that Austin is no longer the quaint college town. The food carts along Congress and Guadalupe have been replaced by food trucks. What was once home to a burgeoning blues scene thanks to Clifford Antone and a slew of transplants from Dallas (the Vaughn Brothers, Doyle Bramhall, Denny Freeman, Lou Ann) Northern Virginia (Evan Johns) Providence (Johnny Nicholas, Fran Christina, Preston Hubbard) and countless other places is no longer the only show in town. Gone are venues like the Armadillo World Headquarters and musicians like Doug Sahm. Today's Austin is a sprawling metropolis with big city prices and recognized world wide as a music capital of all genres. I would be willing to bet there are as many musicians per capita in Austin as there are lawyers per capita in Washington, D.C. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGqsRx-Pc8hmFpH0y1Zd57lj4ZY-TOAm05kUyP5afp1YTlC2dCAuK3HAr-kcfhFIOY_5BPVAhNQAmoTqQQ5O1okc0oMjrYYVf8uHfRF7F9xArQzslAHE2Q-19ySW_EcTChiXY8Syanvk8IAuVgY4GmTMaIxNW1VtOlrBMsDF29X8dhlwXppKcL2LjJg/s585/Plain%20Sense%20in%20front%20of%20Stubbs%20BBQ%20Austin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="585" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGqsRx-Pc8hmFpH0y1Zd57lj4ZY-TOAm05kUyP5afp1YTlC2dCAuK3HAr-kcfhFIOY_5BPVAhNQAmoTqQQ5O1okc0oMjrYYVf8uHfRF7F9xArQzslAHE2Q-19ySW_EcTChiXY8Syanvk8IAuVgY4GmTMaIxNW1VtOlrBMsDF29X8dhlwXppKcL2LjJg/s320/Plain%20Sense%20in%20front%20of%20Stubbs%20BBQ%20Austin.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">About the closest (albeit imperfect) analogy I could come up with for what has happened to Austin, is what has happened to Stubbs Bar-B-Q restaurant. Formerly a red and white checkered vinyl tablecloth hole in the wall on the first floor of a seedy Rodeway Inn located under the I35 over pass. The old Stubbs had the greatest old jukebox full of 45s on labels like Excello, Duke and Chess. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The new Stubbs is now a multi-million dollar amphitheater that, like the HOB chain, rarely books blues acts, but rather is owned by C3 Presents and booked by Live Nation. </span> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialkYjFW1YfV5P5vF6S3a_SCzZ3YYL-352kTz3kuDTcD3prq8KDGWsVybrCcQOKwrpr7_cLGoDXdvr-8bWpmr9QQ-sZTBkJRSnFRslvdbjCh5s4ZztI49BV6Qkzi1nPqw7NTluXLuJ12NvMufkJa5SRtT8lXqSp4SCdfAWVVr5cIHQxxGuI02wwwiCSQ/s1000/stubbsbbqamphitheater9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialkYjFW1YfV5P5vF6S3a_SCzZ3YYL-352kTz3kuDTcD3prq8KDGWsVybrCcQOKwrpr7_cLGoDXdvr-8bWpmr9QQ-sZTBkJRSnFRslvdbjCh5s4ZztI49BV6Qkzi1nPqw7NTluXLuJ12NvMufkJa5SRtT8lXqSp4SCdfAWVVr5cIHQxxGuI02wwwiCSQ/s320/stubbsbbqamphitheater9.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have a hard time believing its<br /> namesake would feel comfortable at an Anthrax concert in the new version but you have to hand it to his children's marketing and business savvy for taking their father's humble restaurant and turning it into a national brand.</span></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, yes Austin has changed, it's true, show me what hasn't.....</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIV6TWAoo7YS5w1i7aqZQo8GHTQ2afd4Ax8SjiCPsEsV1f1m5jUQc8AZxBHX0k2Oc-qqxH8EWV0cc1Ua7-xDklMew-pUYylkLk42RoFXvhd-NUN3rfNn62N9NjUNX8J9nX2VgPXsRHfh-JvcvVcaOCDJe_wktveBbMK7ss110u0abJRk_TSWEoNFlX7Q/s4032/IMG_3953.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIV6TWAoo7YS5w1i7aqZQo8GHTQ2afd4Ax8SjiCPsEsV1f1m5jUQc8AZxBHX0k2Oc-qqxH8EWV0cc1Ua7-xDklMew-pUYylkLk42RoFXvhd-NUN3rfNn62N9NjUNX8J9nX2VgPXsRHfh-JvcvVcaOCDJe_wktveBbMK7ss110u0abJRk_TSWEoNFlX7Q/w300-h400/IMG_3953.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3lcvLkgg-gKtQXMmjhiSdpHNe00kXKVTmcZDyQQQc6O9sb7F3LHj6AbZCQrFrFVzMEkxHONAwS9SBtEPFhBoeSosbDr6f8HTDp7ARHSfEjaDi-fYrWEzohvPTdqxVQx8ghJgGk10Myx1XZLMK0sxECeOH8f8jTpH48lZCvSkV-QADeslNUZmKYqNBg/s1658/IMG_3955.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1658" data-original-width="1242" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3lcvLkgg-gKtQXMmjhiSdpHNe00kXKVTmcZDyQQQc6O9sb7F3LHj6AbZCQrFrFVzMEkxHONAwS9SBtEPFhBoeSosbDr6f8HTDp7ARHSfEjaDi-fYrWEzohvPTdqxVQx8ghJgGk10Myx1XZLMK0sxECeOH8f8jTpH48lZCvSkV-QADeslNUZmKYqNBg/w150-h200/IMG_3955.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"I'm going home with the armadillos..."</span></p><div><br /></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-75450259333865103282022-07-16T12:38:00.000-05:002023-05-27T05:30:14.871-05:00Antone's 47th Anniversary Shows Finale: Betty Harris, W.C. Clark<p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> July 16, 2022</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3Q_eb9sNjQ4xHpDsDHtK_g0CqqTzEiq5A7UZzj459G9G1t_BL-IckDZZUczpjwSiGLmGY3MMbr76d-gIBgd12gYVXoaROo8yvfnMFu12HPL3eoujUdEdrH7JTMrqQZuGxxY0NDQi9UkB7zALZm6WlzRAh8Wh1oZC5gF5JcZeXNfk2eJzzgQX3PMvIg/s4032/IMG_4070.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3Q_eb9sNjQ4xHpDsDHtK_g0CqqTzEiq5A7UZzj459G9G1t_BL-IckDZZUczpjwSiGLmGY3MMbr76d-gIBgd12gYVXoaROo8yvfnMFu12HPL3eoujUdEdrH7JTMrqQZuGxxY0NDQi9UkB7zALZm6WlzRAh8Wh1oZC5gF5JcZeXNfk2eJzzgQX3PMvIg/w480-h640/IMG_4070.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhT_1fGIscFrpJCh8xtAhxMApZ9pirbVIWxPAlfSHTgykoAwxR5tK6lriI3LOa6RT0R12o1IFcYU35rsYdNLERQpNu2vP-ovv_fGvDOo7A6Uz25LcmgH-8fqE0XpYderkkTgsKU2MkO0MH07kOj74zzcSqQRVrXfG-L-4MT2-QIDqE-W_cujyO69KAg/s4032/IMG_4102.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; 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float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ar_y1kBmiuIbw878MQx0PyVb7-i0-u9zx3CoNkt_fW130pKNfialWVu0EG_uEDHmxWwKzylVDQ3bMszGni66saYdYf96uqIjIeJOlO-tBbzLqpsU7-jsjS51yXxlmeqOr6kaEQek6saVUiWGULyG-MHrfLGg4rSaTc0bjbIkmxnSqy-bmAg6q1fiJw/s320/IMG_4153.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvzMeQ45bq0eH_RaPRNha_UNHlBiNnwQaeoiLVO5Q-TeIVBRyA2GTvpiNxFmuiY_sZ3iZRoejvcXiVWAgAO1AqaEz9LZa4SADLH1vFj4xAer_SQYeUaSypwUuHseeplqg-FJsFHJZpK2fh8ZMO4OycVr5fDBQFyJ3DZS43SayZUwj0cNNEaTtJAhQ0g/s4032/IMG_4163.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvzMeQ45bq0eH_RaPRNha_UNHlBiNnwQaeoiLVO5Q-TeIVBRyA2GTvpiNxFmuiY_sZ3iZRoejvcXiVWAgAO1AqaEz9LZa4SADLH1vFj4xAer_SQYeUaSypwUuHseeplqg-FJsFHJZpK2fh8ZMO4OycVr5fDBQFyJ3DZS43SayZUwj0cNNEaTtJAhQ0g/w480-h640/IMG_4163.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96ynPS_eBipBTtm91b6YDRpkQdB0a9RZ7xsnJqFBMml1pVLcAqEwbHIytr1JLTUfoK7higXoU3hq6cpRJrHFxXwXknifFz7nUbiuPnR_GN7u6nv8WqfY5HtJNrxrKwkl9GvH4vhygiBFKKiw-6SO9b2Jg-kpoIraByXINDX5h-MXNvorlFl_uu6MKfw/s4032/IMG_4165.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96ynPS_eBipBTtm91b6YDRpkQdB0a9RZ7xsnJqFBMml1pVLcAqEwbHIytr1JLTUfoK7higXoU3hq6cpRJrHFxXwXknifFz7nUbiuPnR_GN7u6nv8WqfY5HtJNrxrKwkl9GvH4vhygiBFKKiw-6SO9b2Jg-kpoIraByXINDX5h-MXNvorlFl_uu6MKfw/w300-h400/IMG_4165.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><br />Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-74351810286393852862022-07-12T13:15:00.001-05:002022-07-12T18:19:23.728-05:00Running Bear the Wisconsin Way: Send In the Hounds<p>August 2021</p><p> It is 4 a.m. on the first Sunday morning in August in the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021. It has been a long, hot summer in Minneapolis with very little rain and I need to get the Fuck out of Dodge. I finish loading my car with the provisions I require for a daytrip, (black licorice, sesame covered cashews, dark chocolate and a six pack of Castle Danger Cream Ale), throw my 4 year old Anatolian Shepherd a couple of doggie treats to distract her and make my escape out the door. </p><p>Finally freed from the confines of my residential prison and its daily grind of re-employment search activity, internet surfing and Netflix, I am greatly looking forward to running bear with hounds over in Wisconsin and reconnecting with my old friend Joe Trumble. Up until a phone call I made to him about a week earlier, I had not seen or talked to Joe in nearly 20 years. Why now was it "Trumble time"? My inner voice spoke to me out of the blue and said to call Joe Trumble and I try and follow my inner voice. As usual it was right.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYv968otbyEAJN5jVM5BDVID_kLrAC8YpbZaEsDPEU66eyMt04lkALtr-fYJUwD-zuYI5Hv0wTDDXITWyFE3K4VmNMXOYyxOa6PD-McOeR2Kma59rvLsiQIDROnqFphkq_MXIg8Xfj-f7/s1334/IMG_3140.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYv968otbyEAJN5jVM5BDVID_kLrAC8YpbZaEsDPEU66eyMt04lkALtr-fYJUwD-zuYI5Hv0wTDDXITWyFE3K4VmNMXOYyxOa6PD-McOeR2Kma59rvLsiQIDROnqFphkq_MXIg8Xfj-f7/w180-h320/IMG_3140.PNG" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p>I always admired Trumble, and for many reasons. Not just because he is an avid outdoorsman, expert hunter and widely regarded as the best shot in Western Wisconsin, rifle or shotgun (and that was even before he had all the plaques and trophies to prove it). I know this would greatly embarrass him for me to say, (which in itself is another reason I admire him), but Joe always struck me as a guy who had it pretty much figured out. By "it", of course, I mean life. No, Joe is not some kind of life coach, a guru or whatever new age moniker you want to put on such nonsense. Trumble isn't the kind of guy to ever tell you how smart he is or to presume to tell others how to live their lives. But if you are ever lucky enough to spend some time around him and just observe, you'll know exactly what I am talking about. Low key, self-deprecating to a fault but with a wry sense of humor. A raconteur of the woodlands.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMqu6eSJM6ExffG-vWPZ1WymYzvWpn8N1ei7ePoyDzwDBIMVhB9z_SNf4jHgsAf024XqIMT8r-7sbM96Bh_xZhhRvoweD8j0gXtQkwVUPvtDZyt3ya5PjNXpqx5Lpt1g3lj19Mb1cJBfp/s2048/IMG_3121.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMqu6eSJM6ExffG-vWPZ1WymYzvWpn8N1ei7ePoyDzwDBIMVhB9z_SNf4jHgsAf024XqIMT8r-7sbM96Bh_xZhhRvoweD8j0gXtQkwVUPvtDZyt3ya5PjNXpqx5Lpt1g3lj19Mb1cJBfp/s320/IMG_3121.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I also admire Joe for being a patriot in the truest meaning of the word. Joe knows that we are all incredibly blessed to be American citizens. But with citizenship comes responsibility. I am of the personal belief that with all the benefits that come with American citizenship is the duty to answer your nation's call to service. I am also proud to live in a country where people have the right to disagree with our nation's foreign policy. Joe, like my good friend Al Avelsgard, my cousin Phil and hundreds of thousands young Americans answered the nation's call to serve in Viet Nam. We owed them our respect and support whether or not we agreed with the war or the foreign policy du jour. Unfortunately, we as a nation failed them miserably. To Joe and all the Viet Nam vets out there our country owes you an apology, should beg your forgiveness and give a heartfelt "Thank you for your service".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-g1eJ-4Mgu39q5eTNJvazeAeTPUb2SuMl7YVKfs6mWUO3ltHuil2OAsujjoZcj3hk-2oh6fOlX5cjhdwlBBLmyGqwAPvx4mw20ArH8Kzx7L63qruCe6V-JmIIdMqYhnmBgK4eNM4_kmX-/s2048/IMG_3139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-g1eJ-4Mgu39q5eTNJvazeAeTPUb2SuMl7YVKfs6mWUO3ltHuil2OAsujjoZcj3hk-2oh6fOlX5cjhdwlBBLmyGqwAPvx4mw20ArH8Kzx7L63qruCe6V-JmIIdMqYhnmBgK4eNM4_kmX-/w300-h400/IMG_3139.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>A wonderful father and grandfather and one of the few people I know still married after 50 years. (In truth, I suppose that speaks more of the virtues of his wife, Sylvia, than anything Trumble could, or would, take credit for.) Joe not only understands the importance of family to one's happiness in life, but is one of the few men I know that acts on his understanding. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw01WGsSMBWupg0DM97cl14hFmWfQwlp542I7tP4MssP7lhqhdGtVWs9iy9d3dVJtqa0dIRib5E4Z3ip-eX1KADTQ2ActoQ9xQniRUZh5ksroweiL_QTMBH3r7jxW5-__AiqW1xsdxxn_W/s2048/IMG_3116.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw01WGsSMBWupg0DM97cl14hFmWfQwlp542I7tP4MssP7lhqhdGtVWs9iy9d3dVJtqa0dIRib5E4Z3ip-eX1KADTQ2ActoQ9xQniRUZh5ksroweiL_QTMBH3r7jxW5-__AiqW1xsdxxn_W/w480-h640/IMG_3116.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vgFwX7Iv2f0" width="320" youtube-src-id="vgFwX7Iv2f0"></iframe></div><br /><p>After a successful morning of running the hounds culminating in treeing a cub up a large ash tree approximately 650 yards into boggy wetlands in the Crex Meadows public hunting grounds, Joe informed his A-team of bear hunting compatriots that he would not be joining them on their afternoon hunt. You see Sundays were for gathering the children and grandchildren for dinner. A tradition he inherited from his parents and grandparents and I have no doubt will be continued by his daughters and grandchildren. Like I said, Trumble's got it figured out. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0KsRRRF-MXCXHPdPJvdNI40pzihre31cf2uFcNxbsl-KUFxebC6hCkrrtP8JNBNIFQg6z5MICNVSFeyr8nHmHiZ8XfcFTWrNyddkurafSUNKZJOVuF2hju46dXoa1-cl_BrLqJy5xKvK/s2048/IMG_3113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0KsRRRF-MXCXHPdPJvdNI40pzihre31cf2uFcNxbsl-KUFxebC6hCkrrtP8JNBNIFQg6z5MICNVSFeyr8nHmHiZ8XfcFTWrNyddkurafSUNKZJOVuF2hju46dXoa1-cl_BrLqJy5xKvK/w480-h640/IMG_3113.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Eat your heart out Jerry Burton!</p>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-36309451466847677822022-07-12T13:03:00.003-05:002022-07-12T13:03:54.821-05:00David Bromberg Turns Concert into Moving Tribute to His Friend and Collaborator, Paul Siebel (September 19, 1937 – April 5, 2022)<div class="separator"><a href="#" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqlPDSAPANJ09OTX7bTKuzGyMeaM7XLC3BFAZip0xJZS_rnFOtqlIk0mESI67TO7DzA1pHWD0jUBKvU5Y9mvnCk--qHFdWT-AokyBgeyeE-XZSSOUSfwmGMlv1i2eGzQVIo3i4QlLMQY3jSXH2hOx3QMFmKrB3ApiueWlo1ljlOEcKR0aLgdVy2mVXA/w400-h306/David%20Bromberg%20at%20Dakota%20(2).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"><br /></div><br /><br /><br />The David Bromberg Quintet's covid delayed Big Road tour rolled into Minneapolis for two nights, (April 5th and 6th, 2022) at the Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis. David was proud and excited to finally be able to premier his latest project, Big Road, before live audiences after he and his band worked really hard to complete it back in 2020 only to have it get delayed by wave after wave of covid. Although I did not attend the first night on April 5th, word was that David and his band were in good spirits and fine form. <br /><br />It was not until after his opening number on the second night, (the crowd favorite, Sharon), did a somber Bromberg announce the sad news, the passing of his friend and long time collaborator, Paul Siebel, the gifted singer-songwriter (probably best known to Minnesotans as composer of Louise, which was covered and popularized by Leo Kottke). Siebel had worked with Bromberg for over 50 years including a live album recorded at McCabe's Guitars in LA back in 1978. Bromberg told the audience that if his band looked a little disorganized between songs it is because they don't operate from a set list. While he tries, if at all possible, not to play the same song two nights in a row, he would be making an exception this night to feature some of his favorites written by Siebel. Highlights included "The Ballad of Honest Sam", Siebel's commentary on Nixon and which David said also bears relevance to a recent administration and David's poignant version of "Any Day Woman".<div><br /></div><div>It was at this point that things took a rather unfortunate turn. An overly enthusiastic fan who apparently missed David's introduction to the Siebel material kept requesting his Bromberg favorites, much to David's consternation. Below are three videos I took of the encounter:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DSv0ptjbJPw" width="320" youtube-src-id="DSv0ptjbJPw"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bVrZPOnJYGw" width="320" youtube-src-id="bVrZPOnJYGw"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GQXuqPpVJAM" width="320" youtube-src-id="GQXuqPpVJAM"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-80637936700271665022022-07-12T12:32:00.002-05:002022-07-12T18:42:49.493-05:00THE NIGHTHAWKS "Established 1972": A Fitting Testament to Mark Wenner's Music LegacyMark Wenner is no dummy. He earned a bachelor's in English from Columbia. He has taken rusty frames and buckets of nuts and bolts and restored them to vintage American motorcycle glory. But Mark Wenner's greatest legacy is his quiet but persistent leadership and guidance of an American music collective known as the Nighthawks. Part of Wenner's genius is that he has always recognized that the Nighthawks are a collective of the talents of its individual members, whose sum is greater than the parts. Despite numerous changes in personnel over the years, Wenner has shown great agility and adapted yet always stayed true to the integrity of his musical vision. <div><br /></div><div> Not to be pigeon holed as a blues band, the Nighthawks have always exemplified the musical influences from which they came.
The D.C. area has always been one of the great confluences of American music influences. Living in the D.C. area you are exposed to Bluegrass from Virginia, Country Western and Rockabilly from Maryland and jazz, blues and funk from D.C. and Baltimore.With such a wide range of musical influences, it is no wonder why so many greats call this area home. Duke Ellington, Roy Buchanan, Danny Gatton, Nils Lofgren, Robert Gordon, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and the Seldom Scene are just some of the artists that come to mind. But no group embodies the diverse influences of the D.C. area better than the Nighthawks.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfTAkqyRb6qJ1wlz__hRW8ump5eH4087e8a2WpVYy-0zxzmWZFkqxWKm0EFeRIWiIWrHjBXKZBhK43Rsyg8nAfsNGanMG2EGTE3_068rT-b9gllei4Ojcwdhuql6CHyTz1ym3xD4lmZ93BSb8f0_E14iA26UiqTnDW7L3Y2SZYt-xpXeVX_96hp7uFg/s380/Nighthawks%20play%20Seven%20Locks%20Prison,%201975.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="380" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfTAkqyRb6qJ1wlz__hRW8ump5eH4087e8a2WpVYy-0zxzmWZFkqxWKm0EFeRIWiIWrHjBXKZBhK43Rsyg8nAfsNGanMG2EGTE3_068rT-b9gllei4Ojcwdhuql6CHyTz1ym3xD4lmZ93BSb8f0_E14iA26UiqTnDW7L3Y2SZYt-xpXeVX_96hp7uFg/w320-h232/Nighthawks%20play%20Seven%20Locks%20Prison,%201975.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <div><br /></div><div> Established in 1972 by Wenner and co-founder Jimmy Thackery, the band started its meteoric rise a few years later after solidifying it's foundation with the addition of the rhythym section of Pete Ragusa on drums and Jan Zukowski on bass. Over the next ten years the band earned its well deserved reputation among fans, critics and fellow musicians alike, playing as many as 200 gigs or more some years, across the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan. <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCBnkVkR76HNxC43cXhvPoNbYkiKzQrRrqTYFVWDJnW8hYqgbObrHeU1U9qmibMWFLj0BkzGIkp2u686TaIpUdI5fk0bTDXRlqze-lAgWWdk3D6-JWYA7qRh3CKqDoBUZz6qCFT24llYtr5gBdrO6Gy4P4gsLIVPKVNc2arTq8E3cFKeLm7A_4etkow/s993/McKinley%20Morganfield%20and%20the%20Nighthawks.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="993" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCBnkVkR76HNxC43cXhvPoNbYkiKzQrRrqTYFVWDJnW8hYqgbObrHeU1U9qmibMWFLj0BkzGIkp2u686TaIpUdI5fk0bTDXRlqze-lAgWWdk3D6-JWYA7qRh3CKqDoBUZz6qCFT24llYtr5gBdrO6Gy4P4gsLIVPKVNc2arTq8E3cFKeLm7A_4etkow/s320/McKinley%20Morganfield%20and%20the%20Nighthawks.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Admirers included Muddy Waters and his Legendary Blues Band, with whom the Nighthawks earned a grammy nomination for their excellent Jacks and Kings volumes and Gregg Allman, who loved them so much he was ready to join the group and booked an East Coast tour. Unfortunately, the tour was aborted after only one show due to Gregg's personal struggles. I was in line waiting to get into the Bayou in D.C. for the second night of the tour when the bouncer came out and announced to the crowd, which stretched around the block, that the show had been cancelled. The bootleg of the first show at the Scorpion in Happy Valley, PA the night before with special guest Billy Price is legendary, with many people thinking that the stripped down versions of Allman originals are among the best and truest treatments ever recorded.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCQF48BZfKqfsteC-bOSQ7CUMfFFpHQrc-3HRcWvOiudl3nM6D2RGhUEf49W3Q7_ydHUmZkMC1UKb6RzXm-AK5f0NS9UcbsvLqK6KNi8ee5w5PCaacNi8VCSwv2G9GQn3plMkN_IPMWVYFhuHhrcWLm-puQcEIytFGbQjS4pGiU-maeYteAaEPoLNTw/s582/Gregg%20and%20Hawks.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;">.<img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCQF48BZfKqfsteC-bOSQ7CUMfFFpHQrc-3HRcWvOiudl3nM6D2RGhUEf49W3Q7_ydHUmZkMC1UKb6RzXm-AK5f0NS9UcbsvLqK6KNi8ee5w5PCaacNi8VCSwv2G9GQn3plMkN_IPMWVYFhuHhrcWLm-puQcEIytFGbQjS4pGiU-maeYteAaEPoLNTw/s400/Gregg%20and%20Hawks.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The only thing the band lacked was a hit single and the heavy rotation airplay that comes with it to crack the ceiling into the next level. Part of the problem, in my personal opinion, was the commercial radio industry which still suffered from the lingering corruption of the payola system. </div><div><br /></div><div> By 1986 cracks between Wenner and Thackery had developed into fissures and eventually the writing on the wall was becoming apparent. But not before a tour of the Mid and South West that I was fortunate to follow on my motorcycle. A few months later, in August of 1986, I made the trip back to D.C. for their regrettably-named "Farewell" show at the Carter Baron Amphitheater where they were joined by many fellow travelers and friends. Gregg Allman, John Hammond, Jr., Toru Oki, Pinetop Perkins, Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson and Bob Margolin were just some of the luminaries who came out to show their gratitude and respect.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Fast forward 36 years and its 2022 and the Hawks have released "Established 1972" their new studio album on the VizzTone Label Group celebrating the band's 50th Anniversary. Produced by the band and long time collaborator David Earl and the album was recorded at Earl's legendary Severn Sound Studios in Maryland. The 2022 version of the Nighthawks has Wenner at the helm of course, the ever lovable Mark Stutso on drums and vocals and the newer members, Don Hovey on guitar and Paul Pisciotta on bass. Everyone contributes with vocals and songwriting credits.</div><div><br /></div><div>The album kicks off with Wenner doing a rousing version of Garaint Walker's "Nobody" followed by the record's strongest original composition, Hovey's excellent "You Seem Distant", one of four tracks he contributes. Stutso takes over lead vocal duties on a solid cover of Eddie Hinton's arrangement of Sam Cooke's "I'll Come Running Back" popularized by his old bandmate Jimmy Thackery. Stutso is also featured on "Coming and Going" as well as his funky and greasy original contribution "Gas Station Chicken". You cannot mention chicken without thinking Memphis, which the band does quite nicely on Raiford Starke's "West Memphis". Hovey's straight ahead rock version of the reggae standard "Johnny Too Bad" works surprisingly well as does the humorous cover of the Coaster's "Run Red Run". Hell, even the co-producer, Mr. Earl, cannot resist adding some Eddie Taylor inspired guitar licks to the Jimmy Reed classic "Take It Easy". Always keeping their ears open to good material and wonderful arrangements the Hawks remind us of their great taste in covering John Hammond's version of Mose Allison's "Ask Me Nice", a perfect fit for Wenner. </div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, "Established 1972" is a remarkable product for a band that keeps putting out first class performances of music covering a wide range of genres. The injection of new blood and strong original contributions, especially from Hovey, show that the Nighthawks are not ready to pull in their wings and nest.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WkBbGrHOOVJGrs4HrIPysn5_WnD8Op4932zF8_pvxp5IDp55N9dn1hwDawOvCudyk9JvhvKdB8GpI_T6vNgBjv7p8heXj31HAofWNx7Y9k58NdC6eD4zpwJPucQv0yaagIsfUTHXyEroiZfc-M6Fn4TQMTI9ZEwz2GXxxibLzHhwL2_AHHgC5O3qRQ/s1280/The-Nighthawks-Established-1972.jpg.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WkBbGrHOOVJGrs4HrIPysn5_WnD8Op4932zF8_pvxp5IDp55N9dn1hwDawOvCudyk9JvhvKdB8GpI_T6vNgBjv7p8heXj31HAofWNx7Y9k58NdC6eD4zpwJPucQv0yaagIsfUTHXyEroiZfc-M6Fn4TQMTI9ZEwz2GXxxibLzHhwL2_AHHgC5O3qRQ/s320/The-Nighthawks-Established-1972.jpg.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-35885865495107137362022-04-02T08:18:00.001-05:002022-04-02T08:21:48.930-05:00 Jon Cleary Has Earned the Title of New Orlean's Preeminent Ambassador<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p50Hxjw5x8c" width="320" youtube-src-id="p50Hxjw5x8c"></iframe></div><br /> Kent is a long ways from Louisiana, but if you put in the work, learn your craft and mentor with the greats, even a kid from a small town in the United Kingdom, Cranbrook, can grow up to be the preeminent pianist of New Orleans. Cleary's solo performance at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis on March 30, 2022 demonstrated that Cleary is much more than a piano player. He is also a fine vocalist who knows his range and has an encyclopedic knowledge of New Orlean's standards with stories to match. Cleary is also a fine songwriter and opened his show with his original, "Frenchmen Street Blues" which is a masterpiece, capturing the essence of the Crescent City in it's beautiful lyrics: <div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Sprinkle my ashes on Frenchmen Street.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Don't be upset at the news,</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Just cut me loose with a soulful song.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Don't play no Frenchmen Street blues.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Hitch me a ride on a river breeze</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">To Elysian Fields so green</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">And I'll join the spirits standin' by to smile,</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">On the backstreets of old New Orleans.</span></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div><br /></div><div>All those years hanging out in clubs like the Maple Leaf, where James Booker once lived upstairs and would play whenever the feeling struck him, have paid off for Cleary and even come full circle. For it is Cleary who now holds down a regular slot at the Maple Leaf, often accompanied by his band, the Absolute Monster Gentlemen. Through hard work, respect for his art and its history, Cleary has truly become an authentic Ambassador for America's greatest soft power to the world, New Orleans and its music. Another memorable night of fine dining and great music at the Dakota, which along with the more famous First Ave and its family of venues, make Minneapolis the Crescent City of the North.<p></p></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-64977171323843767092021-11-20T16:19:00.004-06:002021-11-20T16:19:54.481-06:00Congratulations to Alejandro Escovedo on His Induction into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame 2021<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/QMUw5WSMLls" width="480"></iframe></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-18065530764234890722021-09-27T12:36:00.005-05:002021-10-07T18:06:47.440-05:00 Vote Yes to Question 2 on Restructuring the Minneapolis Police Department<p> The City of Minneapolis is rapidly approaching perhaps the most important election in its history. Voters will not only be choosing who will be the City’s next Mayor and lead us at a time when we are facing challenges like no other since the “greatest generation”, but also deciding several important referendum issues that will have lasting effect on the day to day lives of ordinary citizens. </p><p>The stakes could not be higher. The question is whether we, as citizens, are going to submit to the manufactured fear that is being peddled by the perpetrators (bad actor cops) in the hope that change, if it comes, will be negligible and leads to the same safe and overly cautious approaches and with it the same predictable, if not obvious, results?</p><p>In a Bloomberg article dated June 4, 2020 and entitled<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-04/the-financial-toll-of-police-brutality-to-cities" target="_blank"> "How Cities Offload the Cost of Police Brutality: Cities spend tens of millions of dollars on lawsuits over police violence and killings. But municipalities are effectively using residents to mortgage the cost"</a>.</p><p>Said Bloomberg CityLab article reported: </p><p>"In Minneapolis, a metro that has been plagued by several other prominent police brutality incidents in recent years, there are actions the city could have taken but weren’t. The Minneapolis police union blocked the city from incorporating new reforms for the police department — including new rules for the deployment of neck restraints, as was used to kill Floyd.</p><p>Instead, cities like Minneapolis make taxpayers pay for police violence on the back end, after a police officer has already injured or killed a civilian, and after he’s been tried or the case has been settled. This is true for most large cities, where the legal costs for defending police are usually paid out of the city’s own general funds, or through issuing bonds, either way paid with taxpayer funds. Cities are effectively using their residents to mortgage police violence — a proposition that may grow less and less palatable as families’ finances are depleted by other circulating disasters." Id.</p><p>Minneapolis NBC affiliate<a href="https://www.kare11.com/article/news/investigations/minneapolis-police-misconduct-payouts-top-70-million/89-489d102d-43cc-457e-9f7f-2ce471ccd2d5" target="_blank"> KARE 11 recently reported that the citizens of Minneapolis have shelled out $70 Million Dollars in financial settlements as a result of police misconduct </a>and abuse over the last two decades while the officers themselves enjoy qualified immunity from financial responsibility and experience little negative employment consequences for their actions. Jon Collins of Minnesota Public Radio reported in a July 9, 2020 article that "Half of fired Minnesota police officers get their jobs back through arbitration".</p><p>As the election nears (early voting is already underway), city residents’ mailboxes are being inundated with slick advertisements containing false choices and half-truths created by the best advertising agencies and public relations firms that money can buy. The theme of the “No to Question 2” proponents and against the creation of a new Department of Public Safety boils down to fear and false choices. Nothing drives public opinion like fear and the friend of the status quo is fear of change. </p><p>The combination of fear and the inertia of the status quo can create strange bedfellows. It is not surprising that the Police Union and rank and file police officers, who know they have a rigged game with little accountability and are so used to acting with impunity, are vehemently opposed to restructuring. Instead of discussing reform and practical solutions, they are stoking the fears of residents and engaging in work slow downs creating the conditions that encourage a rising crime rate. They are hoping that by creating the problem and exacerbating it, they will get their desired result of the status quo and its hollow promise of reform. But now they are being joined by a group of centrist Democrats who have apparently caved into fear and are falling for the union's and rank and file's promise to reform. The citizens demonstrated in the wake of George Floyd's murder that the time of unfulfilled promises to reform are over and demand action now,</p><p>False Choice number one perpetuated by the “No to Question 2” supporters is that an armed police presence will disappear upon passage of vote yes. The fact is under a restructuring involving the creation of the Minneapolis Department of Public Safety an armed police presence would still be its largest component. The opponents to reform have cynically adopted the goals of the reformers e.g. changes in police recruitment, training accountability and discipline and integration of mental health and violence prevention experts, but virtually insure that said reforms will never happen by opposing a structural overhaul.</p><p>The only way to implement the changes and reforms stated above is to cut out the cancer which created the abuses and that is the corrosive police culture and its union that pits officers against citizens and promotes a subculture based upon paranoia and a warrior ideology. We need to get out from the one-sided collective bargaining agreement negotiated by a union out of touch with the citizenry. In order to implement the reforms both sides agree on, this change in structure is required.</p><p>Sadly, the well funded and organized campaign of the police union and politicizing what should be a non-partisan issue like public safety, is showing signs it is getting its desired result. But this is not a conservative or liberal issue yet the opponents to reform have the public believing crime is out of control when in fact the police are deliberately creating this false impression and encouraging crime with their work slow down and public threats to resign should the reforms be adopted. To those who feel that way I say “we understand and accept your resignation”. </p><p> Those who joined law enforcement for the right reasons, to protect and to serve, should have no problem with a system that requires the accountability the current culture has resisted up and until the George Floyd case. If you doubt the accuracy of this sentiment just look at the lack of reform the last 16 months since the murder of George Floyd and the history of reform opposition in the MPD the last 50 years. </p><p>Don't believe the police are deliberately engaged in a slowdown to quash attempts at reform? Reuters recently released a special report entitled<a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-policing-minneapolis/" target="_blank"> "Hands Off Patrol: After Floyd's Killing, Minneapolis Police Retreated, Data Shows"</a>. In the Reuters article it quotes various unidentified police personnel as follows:</p><p>“It’s self-preservation,” said one officer who retired after Floyd’s death, speaking on the condition of anonymity. He said the force’s commanders didn’t order a slowdown, but also did nothing to stop it. “The supervisor was like, ‘I don’t blame you at all if you don’t want to do anything. Hang out in the station.’ That’s what they’re saying.”</p><p>If that anecdotal evidence does not persuade you that the MPD needs restructuring how about the plain statistics:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFR0LcXW_L0VAJEfK0VXwy4zcRJrL9ieL8GR_tttbhM2gP4D2etM8BBVjvvFk3eOax0gkep16eGCRX52l9SSEmHub8pFYPdNAhGwSSLeB-bzWuLQ_qO97eam1rtpUSkHdwjj3SQQ7Wh0u/s667/Mpls+Police+responses.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="667" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFR0LcXW_L0VAJEfK0VXwy4zcRJrL9ieL8GR_tttbhM2gP4D2etM8BBVjvvFk3eOax0gkep16eGCRX52l9SSEmHub8pFYPdNAhGwSSLeB-bzWuLQ_qO97eam1rtpUSkHdwjj3SQQ7Wh0u/w640-h446/Mpls+Police+responses.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>The Reuters article goes on to quote "A police spokesman, John Elder,..." who said ..."short-staffing meant 'we were running from call to call and didn’t have time for anything else.' He did not respond to additional questions."</p><p>Nevertheless, Reuters found, "...the drop in police-initiated interactions was steeper and more sudden than the drop in the number of officers. By July 2020, the number of encounters begun by officers had dropped 70% from the year before; the number of stops fell 76%."</p><p>False choice number two being promoted by the "Just Say No to Question Two" proponents, is by voting yes to Question No. 2 you will getting rid of Chief Arredondo, a beacon for reform. I personally agree with sentiments expressed by the chief in his testimony in the George Floyd case and would greatly encourage the city to hire him to lead the new Public Safety Department. The problem with leaving things with the status quo with only a hope for reform is the current rank and file and police union perceive Chief Arredondo the same way they perceived and treated Chief Bouza, and that is, if not with utter disdain, then they ignore him.</p><p>That was to be predicted and is a playbook that dates back to the police administration of Tony Bouza. For those too young to remember, Tony Bouza, who famously battled bad police culture and corruption as portrayed in the movie “Ft. Apache the Bronx”, was brought in by Mayor Don Fraser in 1980 to reform a department mired in the same abuses we have now. Bouza served as Chief of the MPD until 1988 with a mandate to reform the abuses that culminated tragically with the death of George Floyd. But if the great reformer Tony Bouza failed why should we go down the same path of reform now? The answer is that the Minneapolis Police Union and some rank and file officers fought the reforms tooth and nail and knew that they could out last a reformer who served at the pleasure of elected officials. “Well,…” one would say, “…that is democracy and how accountability works”. </p><p>The problem is the police have no such accountability. We have known for generations what works to get police abuses under control and they are citizen review boards, changes in the qualified immunity law, require officers carry insurance and changing the rules of engagement for the use of deadly force and police chases. These are the only things that will actually make a difference but as long as the abuses were affecting minorities and the poor, all we got was lip service and half-hearted attempts at reform that were never supported. This is why structural reform is so important.</p><p>Have the courage to make the reforms necessary to insure equal protection and safety of all Minneapolitans, Vote Yes to Question 2. Early voting begins September 17, 2021 and election day is November 2, 2021</p><div><br /></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-40215982030317098012021-09-24T17:41:00.000-05:002021-09-24T17:41:20.642-05:00The Economics of Mass Incarceration<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/kHzLtjR_hdY" width="480"></iframe></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-52175250282734568362021-07-17T16:50:00.001-05:002021-07-17T16:50:28.171-05:00GET VACCINATED<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/txPNApn5mxg" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Music with a message from the James Montgomery Blues Band. If you care about live music, getting vaccinated is something we all can do to restart the real gig economy. The unvaccinated constitute most of the new cases and create conditions that greatly increases the chances of the virus mutating and keeping us in a constant state of pandemic. Unless you have an underlying health condition which precludes you from taking the vaccine, please protect yourself, your loved ones and your fellow citizens and get vaccinated.</div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-57362214619963633882021-06-26T23:16:00.003-05:002023-08-16T10:38:47.799-05:00Lake of the Woods Walleye Fishing Out of the Riverview Resort with its Owner, Larry Cauble<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMydqZLr5v1PiJX5VdSppLRGWrNnqKcG9nR7iN2knYMpWM9HSQJz4pu_DK94N-bYVOT-webTRpWTA_U08GTzjO-u1aglzNo32K3SdI1UBp8P_t4105byOZ-AMbdLaewxBW_CeAabXfUAy-cBTpVP6KwLPLx9ZSsGfELnm0XxCZmmN-sYJLNeCmhLt1YIkx/s1279/Larry%20Caubles%20Riverview%20Resort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="1279" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMydqZLr5v1PiJX5VdSppLRGWrNnqKcG9nR7iN2knYMpWM9HSQJz4pu_DK94N-bYVOT-webTRpWTA_U08GTzjO-u1aglzNo32K3SdI1UBp8P_t4105byOZ-AMbdLaewxBW_CeAabXfUAy-cBTpVP6KwLPLx9ZSsGfELnm0XxCZmmN-sYJLNeCmhLt1YIkx/w640-h240/Larry%20Caubles%20Riverview%20Resort.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w8SKBpS15V85KcQOmRZ2um7lH2J_7VIUcVCyUP5Rq5ywaq2V3qCsgSfpJXNnSCI85t-nbSZD6CLV-m0Ej7NuSr7l9EIw0mtRpDo1u72_VVmmnOnpIS4w9PJTiy-xO2k9YhfMcwUuhWQL/s1463/Riverview+Resort+Baudette%252C+MN+%25283%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1463" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w8SKBpS15V85KcQOmRZ2um7lH2J_7VIUcVCyUP5Rq5ywaq2V3qCsgSfpJXNnSCI85t-nbSZD6CLV-m0Ej7NuSr7l9EIw0mtRpDo1u72_VVmmnOnpIS4w9PJTiy-xO2k9YhfMcwUuhWQL/w640-h434/Riverview+Resort+Baudette%252C+MN+%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">There once was a modest fishing resort located on the Rainy River about 12 miles North of Baudette called the Riverview Resort. Nothing fancy. A collection of white washed cabins that served their purpose (i.e. a place to sleep). The cabins were immaculately clean but came with few amenities other than a table to play cards or mix drinks and discuss the day's catch. </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMJ1_Web3YwCNkIgMahePED5hNinyGHkHLCUb8eA0EDjuDRdWutIrMctqKO0PzIY9QEZG1Al18EkAXWKeMnPJBxEaZP-9D5q48mVITSplHU-1q5YlQjw7kOhB_aYam5R4wqabsm2p6NSF/s1476/Office+Main+Lodge+Riverview+Resort+Baudette%252C+MN+.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1476" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMJ1_Web3YwCNkIgMahePED5hNinyGHkHLCUb8eA0EDjuDRdWutIrMctqKO0PzIY9QEZG1Al18EkAXWKeMnPJBxEaZP-9D5q48mVITSplHU-1q5YlQjw7kOhB_aYam5R4wqabsm2p6NSF/w640-h453/Office+Main+Lodge+Riverview+Resort+Baudette%252C+MN+.JPG" title="Riverview Resort Office/main Lodge/Dining Room" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pKAOrHLxJkQNE8KIIBzYVXY473iC-ltz2yXg1PZMedM6CPTAzDan_5OdqdNn-C8dBbVbr7HLY-BCDd0i1UyrZ5PskD13-YElr2J2OMs2UxfzLIw7pVg5f9JbSZFU9uMIRJ4hO7UG3aAr/s1427/Larry+Cauble+Jim+Schorenstein.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="1427" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pKAOrHLxJkQNE8KIIBzYVXY473iC-ltz2yXg1PZMedM6CPTAzDan_5OdqdNn-C8dBbVbr7HLY-BCDd0i1UyrZ5PskD13-YElr2J2OMs2UxfzLIw7pVg5f9JbSZFU9uMIRJ4hO7UG3aAr/w640-h422/Larry+Cauble+Jim+Schorenstein.JPG" title="Larry Cauble having a drink with us in our cabin after slaughtering em" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNyGtcYmeXB5wqzwi9PX_VdRIb8JQ7zRFUFtEKuvoM4xPx92QEQ_P9AMQkw8soXJvgmVbMyS2xFJXqYY18MHmQKxRX6xdz3w2ISji1Oj3mEAesiBCdlHwJ98GtCx4eKmsQ7F4daX9c6d2/s400/Larry+Cauble+Father+of+Guides+%25283%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="190" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNyGtcYmeXB5wqzwi9PX_VdRIb8JQ7zRFUFtEKuvoM4xPx92QEQ_P9AMQkw8soXJvgmVbMyS2xFJXqYY18MHmQKxRX6xdz3w2ISji1Oj3mEAesiBCdlHwJ98GtCx4eKmsQ7F4daX9c6d2/s320/Larry+Cauble+Father+of+Guides+%25283%2529.JPG" /></a></div><br />The proprietor from 1973 until 1994 was a colorful Chicago transplant named Larry Cauble (photo on left and seated at table on left in above photo). In the early 1960's Larry had come up from Chicago on his first fishing trip to Lake of the Woods and the rest, as they say, was history. Larry moved to Lake of the Woods in 1963, part time at first and after saving enough money for the down payment on the resort, he quit his city job and left Chicago for good. <p></p><p>Larry fished every chance he could and by acting as a guide for his favorite guests he got paid for doing something he loved. It wasn't long before Larry earned a growing reputation for being one of the most knowledgeable guides on the lake. By the time I met Larry in the late 1980's his reputation had grown to legendary status. The other guides on Lake of the Woods referred to him as "Pappy" as in the father of all guides. If the fishing was slow Larry always seemed to know of a spot where they were biting. If you were lucky enough to be fishing on one of his launches you would spend the first hour or so trying to lose a flotilla of boats full of fishermen hoping to horn in on his hot spots and techniques. While imitation is high praise the last thing you want if trying to catch fish is fleet of morons scaring your fish away. Larry dealt with the problem in several ways. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvZmn1iPPLix3RGYtjzXXJlBRhjCJladvEYzO20stLO8l47ESPUxN9P9Ure8MXT_qXZRwmPiPu19gCyw96G1JaR9hf-v527NefOrl_spuUzm3b_I4eHzdTh-zasjvdfUY0lWiNs9WPFIf/s1453/Fishing+Lake+of+the+Woods+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1453" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvZmn1iPPLix3RGYtjzXXJlBRhjCJladvEYzO20stLO8l47ESPUxN9P9Ure8MXT_qXZRwmPiPu19gCyw96G1JaR9hf-v527NefOrl_spuUzm3b_I4eHzdTh-zasjvdfUY0lWiNs9WPFIf/w640-h440/Fishing+Lake+of+the+Woods+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>First, his launches had large inboard engines and were deceptively fast. Once the flotilla of boats that trailed us up the Rainy River reached Wheeler's Point and entered Lake of the Woods, Larry cranked up his engines and ran full out for the first 45 minutes or so making for a very long, uncomfortable ride. However, it produced the desired result and we would lose all but the fastest and most die hard tag-a-longs. What really got under Larry's skin were people who thought they could save the cost of guide services and launch rental by bringing their own boats and tailing Larry. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib00B2cmxufme59YItAgCFoeA3fh_DWwiMuoq8SpDEgYuDHuJaG23XbN5iN4aWNa5HQ77VDZUSF75-PsBRvHyZzw8OoVFLWOrkujPEzXHw1l37XSJVFK-APEzWpo_E6pVrzwyNwL44NzLI/s1430/Fishing+Lake+of+the+Woods+%25283%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1430" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib00B2cmxufme59YItAgCFoeA3fh_DWwiMuoq8SpDEgYuDHuJaG23XbN5iN4aWNa5HQ77VDZUSF75-PsBRvHyZzw8OoVFLWOrkujPEzXHw1l37XSJVFK-APEzWpo_E6pVrzwyNwL44NzLI/w640-h446/Fishing+Lake+of+the+Woods+%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p> For the persistent cling-ons or dingleberries, Larry's other favorite trick was to lead them to a sauger hot spot and start reeling them in one after another. From a distance saugers look like a small walleye and people get caught up in the excitement of catching fish like that. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSalMYuw5zsTZbVkJNOXPyRcft3zMkKv6IHkWZF93uq07F1lxjBzLcs7UlvMRFvlpGfQkzXXEz8HVpNc_TsxAiyxOlKe5TdXxQE-TBU3qxqfM9sCI86nul5xZs9_pKToYxq7fQLHgKLgPZ/s1447/Shoreline+champagne+breakfast+%25283%2529.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="967" data-original-width="1447" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSalMYuw5zsTZbVkJNOXPyRcft3zMkKv6IHkWZF93uq07F1lxjBzLcs7UlvMRFvlpGfQkzXXEz8HVpNc_TsxAiyxOlKe5TdXxQE-TBU3qxqfM9sCI86nul5xZs9_pKToYxq7fQLHgKLgPZ/s320/Shoreline+champagne+breakfast+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> By the time the other boats realize it is nothing but saugers, Larry has quietly snuck off, out of eyesight, before opening it back up and running flat out until you are surrounded by nothing but water. Like being on the ocean or one of the Great Lakes, you can go a long time without ever seeing a shoreline or other point of reference.<p></p><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEFenX4vAfxQEEBAEP_dQz0GC2Lu9j8ObWKs27wbI0Uklovvai77UK-UyRVOPFFxl_RuAuzpcFiq17CiK0tkKiJsJZ7qabbL5OJSdWIazK9kc9qgBr64hFaTsn7MXQIrkVQNV0gPEcqJF/s200/st+of+mn+map+circle.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEFenX4vAfxQEEBAEP_dQz0GC2Lu9j8ObWKs27wbI0Uklovvai77UK-UyRVOPFFxl_RuAuzpcFiq17CiK0tkKiJsJZ7qabbL5OJSdWIazK9kc9qgBr64hFaTsn7MXQIrkVQNV0gPEcqJF/s0/st+of+mn+map+circle.JPG" /></a></div><p></p><p>For the uninitiated, Lake of the Woods is a huge body of water located in the "cap" that juts out on Minnesota's Northern border with Canada. When I say huge, Lake of the Woods boasts 65,000 miles of shoreline, 14,000 islands and over one million acres of water. It is known by those who fish as one of the finest walleye fisheries in the world. Once you fished Lake of the Woods and experience the prolific action and abundant catches first hand, you are ruined for life. The only other fishing experience I can compare it to is when I fished an indoor trout farm in Maryland. You did not even have to use bait, just a naked hook and your catch was only limited by what you were willing to pay, calculated by the pound. </p><p>Fishing Lake of the Woods with Larry as your guide was nearly as easy and you also paid by the pound, for tackle. The best spots to fish Walleye were rocky reefs and Larry would troll back and forth over them. He would suggest what color lure to use, give you an approximate depth, then it was up to you to jig off the bottom without snagging the rocks, a nearly impossible feat. Run out of tackle? No problem. Larry had a veritable tackle store on board his launch and I think he made almost as much money selling tackle as he made from guide services.</p><p>Don't get me wrong, although Larry was a businessman, he was generous to a fault. While he did not suffer fools well, if he liked you, you were treated to special perks like a shore brunch of just caught walleye filets, battered and fried with onion rings on an open camp fire. We jazzed it up with a case of champagne. To this day I think that was about the best meal I have ever ate.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzH4lVnYJA_ncuaVrIO5gUBF_Vixj3pCboJ6dGBrbqJcdBuQ9ruU0HwkRzUH8g6aWRz8cGLPzmG2wJAPAb8c56rWd1_m9Kz9_AXf2XZYa64A3aOrLC4VjUyxvtoMaRLPdQPfRr9MQ01Q-/s1711/Shoreline+champagne+breakfast+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1711" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzH4lVnYJA_ncuaVrIO5gUBF_Vixj3pCboJ6dGBrbqJcdBuQ9ruU0HwkRzUH8g6aWRz8cGLPzmG2wJAPAb8c56rWd1_m9Kz9_AXf2XZYa64A3aOrLC4VjUyxvtoMaRLPdQPfRr9MQ01Q-/w640-h428/Shoreline+champagne+breakfast+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKD7mOUHWEFGp1GBLflXkP3yyAqUAsvScOQ7RvCtTXeEBfXjZFGiZ8gcqcjyF3ZDWj0_pNknoI2PjSn6BBLVtXC6GQtB18_7xGcygOmVJfhrvw-ZJMSZqV_APa6hgBWMa203Ckxs4nNsMr/s1439/Larry+Cauble+Father+of+Guides+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1439" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKD7mOUHWEFGp1GBLflXkP3yyAqUAsvScOQ7RvCtTXeEBfXjZFGiZ8gcqcjyF3ZDWj0_pNknoI2PjSn6BBLVtXC6GQtB18_7xGcygOmVJfhrvw-ZJMSZqV_APa6hgBWMa203Ckxs4nNsMr/w640-h458/Larry+Cauble+Father+of+Guides+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrzIsrOhyphenhyphenUTb0d9YM-ncRXJoy70psaojnLbh8YJjA9oG4G7JncOoeKCTSfip1NevrTuRQqNYjCVduepgpIq86L5-i4o_bCMdC-nLN5x9V_Mcf8h8YVPD6cCHy_sKZSwZrHcS5YkzmugVR/s1459/Vic+Seiler+Larry+Cauble+Jim+Westphal.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1459" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrzIsrOhyphenhyphenUTb0d9YM-ncRXJoy70psaojnLbh8YJjA9oG4G7JncOoeKCTSfip1NevrTuRQqNYjCVduepgpIq86L5-i4o_bCMdC-nLN5x9V_Mcf8h8YVPD6cCHy_sKZSwZrHcS5YkzmugVR/w640-h442/Vic+Seiler+Larry+Cauble+Jim+Westphal.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vic Seiler, Larry Cauble and Plain Sense</span></div><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_F4C4bUgUIMH8uAozjzS3-FB3SwdCg02qnM0ePF_Sn9okdjcJ1zKKEbmjO-BfdmQwJ8t3lOWCT71Cwiglh8iSsC07e1jgzdFyJJMwLYdF9m4JvIZ_pBg5cwMNJy1SYX3dapOi96GQYklz/s1460/Caught+our+limit+%25283%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1460" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_F4C4bUgUIMH8uAozjzS3-FB3SwdCg02qnM0ePF_Sn9okdjcJ1zKKEbmjO-BfdmQwJ8t3lOWCT71Cwiglh8iSsC07e1jgzdFyJJMwLYdF9m4JvIZ_pBg5cwMNJy1SYX3dapOi96GQYklz/w640-h448/Caught+our+limit+%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdEJ__9Km6OdowsMj9NqajXDxq9Me1nYMwePriQcxmfEgsKIz8GFePZGRxK8m6FR_52Y9ifbdU8n4HxwiB_lImJbIAO3BHG69y0rvLujI-zEKlDAt5_oCZR21BdhnauG42VF_PKgmHrgS/s1434/Breakfast+at+Lodge+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYCW6-qqO4XeKUn26ShORuhvDdnxSNPsjGE4f-dLhgZ2u5cqKFfzHhriD9xmhpAlPk4kmhCYXj_AEakDLlhuyBtWFHD0_RkgNhcouZ52-gngoBtl1vqyEelsn-bFAkH0dOj3JlwlrZzwQ/s320/End+of+1st+day+walleye+fishing+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuu3DB2jK9SWQrNVNxH9qKmEKlMaCHGNTH_M7RUY_sZjSYiHkzo8VJXLJQSri2Cm9xgeGzch9tvn0iqZat5_sfTRPgiqIDZL5VFaP487coKaHd_IwXsw2-Go89pcmmMIe201RBpmVC2kTrYOqE-XrhiKMO0euNHJBYQ14rltHxZZ6Sq5aCmimu2AQXDh8z/s1279/Larry%20Caubles%20Riverview%20Resort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="1279" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuu3DB2jK9SWQrNVNxH9qKmEKlMaCHGNTH_M7RUY_sZjSYiHkzo8VJXLJQSri2Cm9xgeGzch9tvn0iqZat5_sfTRPgiqIDZL5VFaP487coKaHd_IwXsw2-Go89pcmmMIe201RBpmVC2kTrYOqE-XrhiKMO0euNHJBYQ14rltHxZZ6Sq5aCmimu2AQXDh8z/w640-h240/Larry%20Caubles%20Riverview%20Resort.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-47168581139484429492021-04-28T21:15:00.002-05:002021-04-28T21:55:10.669-05:00Denny Freeman: The Guitarists' Guitarist Born: August 7, 1944 Died: April 25, 2021<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/KbUAY6xgXM4" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If the name Denny Freeman means nothing to you, you must not play guitar. Denny Freeman was the guitarists' guitarist. Freeman had it all, tone, taste, versatility and the killer thing, he made it all look so easy and relaxed. I once told a guitarist that his playing reminded me of Denny Freeman and he damn near cried saying "...that is the best compliment anyone has ever given me...". From Taj Mahal to Bob Dylan, the greats got in line to ask Freeman to play in their band. Dylan loved his playing so much he kept him for 4 years. In fact, that is Freeman you hear on "Modern Times" the album that sparked one of Dylan's many come backs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Born in Florida and grew up in Dallas, Freeman was one of a handful of Dallas blues players who blazed the trail to Austin. Just how good was Freeman? Let me put it this way, Freeman was the lead guitarist in a band called the Cobras. The other guitarist in the band was a young kid named Stevie Ray Vaughn.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While Freeman made a career of making other people sound great, in 1997 he penned the greatest album title in the history of music: "A Tone For My Sins". Don't get it? Ask a musician.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As God is my witness , one of the first things I was going to do was take a trip to Austin to see 4 of my favorite musicians/singers: Lavelle |White, W.C. Clark, Alejandro Escovedo and Denny Freeman. Sadly, I have one less reason to go to Austin. Celebrate the talent of Denny Freeman by listening to one of my favorite guitar instrumentals of all time, "It's a Love Thing" from the before mentioned album, "A Tone for My Sins". The talent in Heaven's House Band just got raised to a whole 'nuther level! Rest in Peace Brother Denny.</div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-1695731189976299692021-03-24T20:50:00.002-05:002021-07-11T20:05:14.497-05:00Curtis Salgado's "Damage Control" Stands As Testament to A Storied Career<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnDznrzkbtDXptbqMf4kb7uKXLFJtN9n-xyNh2Cw6BjM2cyIMi2tSeHSjr6FJvHwoQRWJxIh1HOUiW525gmVr8EhDbSg7EStyiMpebqjD22Ioj6rQWvjnCx1rGcaJG5uCZQGgx4dJErl1/s2048/CurtisSalgado03_byJessicaKeaveny-2048x1889.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1889" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnDznrzkbtDXptbqMf4kb7uKXLFJtN9n-xyNh2Cw6BjM2cyIMi2tSeHSjr6FJvHwoQRWJxIh1HOUiW525gmVr8EhDbSg7EStyiMpebqjD22Ioj6rQWvjnCx1rGcaJG5uCZQGgx4dJErl1/s320/CurtisSalgado03_byJessicaKeaveny-2048x1889.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> There is an old saying “out of adversity comes opportunity”. “Timing is everything” is another one. "Tough times don't last , but tough people do", you get the picture. If you are lucky and have perseverance, you can string together several of life’s truisms to create success. Curtis Salgado has weathered numerous adversities and persevered to release a magnificent new cd that is easily the best blues/soul album of the year.<div><br /></div><div>Almost to the day of our one-year anniversary of going into lockdown to fight a terrible pandemic that has darkened performance stages and taken a toll in human life reminiscent of the Dark Ages, comes some aural sunshine that goes well beyond mere “Damage Control”. Call it luck or call it wisdom, but head alchemist and producer Curtis Salgado has conjured up a powerful set of original songs that, while highly personal, speak perfectly to the time we are in. Leveraging his 40 years of experience and contacts in the industry, Salgado assembled three different groups of musician wizards, at three of the country’s finest studios adroitly tapping into the strengths of each, as called for by the collaborative material. </div><div><p>The project was recorded at Ultratone Studios in Studio City , CA; Rock House Recordings in Nashville; and the studio that is making San Jose the Muscle Shoals of the new millennium, Kid Anderson’s Greaseland. With this amalgam of sessions and talent one could expect somewhat of a disjointed feel. Not to worry. Much credit, therefore, goes to Sandy Solomon whose mix maintains a seamless feel to the collection of nearly all original material that is both timely and timeless.</p><div style="text-align: left;">The disc opens with the poignant but joyous gospel like treatment entitled “The Longer That I Live”. Considering Salgado has battled and survived liver and 2 bouts of lung cancer make this an inspirational anthem for our current times. Salgado’s and co-writers Dave Duncan and Mike Finnegan’s songwriting here is simply superb. Honest, direct and highly emotional, given Salgado’s back story, yet it never descends into self-pity but rather kicks things off with the joy and hope of someone happy to be alive. When Salgado sings the first verse asking human-kind’s most profound question, it is clear he has given it serious thought: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><b> </b><i> “…What is the meaning of life?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Well, I can’t talk philosophy</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>I know that every new sunrise</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>The more it dawns on me</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span> </span>I may be getting’ old</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span>But I sure ain’t done yet</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span>Cause the longer that I live</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><i> The older I want to get…”</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Which is why his answer is so real and believable. Even Bob Dylan would be envious of the way how Salgado perfectly captures the itinerant musician’s lament or creed:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>“…You see, I’ve climbed the mountains high</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And I’ve played the valley low</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And for all the gigs I’ve done</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I ain’t got much to show</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Though I’m never slowin’ down</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Until I play my final set…”</i></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvcV3YePidQEnsf_6qo5VVmy7EHJoinbZWFdLqBxKkLC9G5yTijbQJDZbSdRLDAm73g8ocVnEbALaYRJssGxyunIiYpjPwGG2GMWD1LDY2XIr8XvQGbTaBKEOgQrW5-yzaPu2863gkdT-/s2048/CurtisSalgado_byLauraCarbone2-scaled.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1422" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvcV3YePidQEnsf_6qo5VVmy7EHJoinbZWFdLqBxKkLC9G5yTijbQJDZbSdRLDAm73g8ocVnEbALaYRJssGxyunIiYpjPwGG2GMWD1LDY2XIr8XvQGbTaBKEOgQrW5-yzaPu2863gkdT-/s320/CurtisSalgado_byLauraCarbone2-scaled.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Salgado’s songwriting prowess is perhaps best exemplified on the disc’s third track, “Your Gonna Miss My Sorry Ass”. Co-written with Alan Hagar, the song is an anti-cautionary tale from the criminal’s point of view with a refreshingly honest point of view expressed with smart, believable imagery worthy of a literary award. I am by trade a criminal defense attorney who has many former clients as friends. When I play this track for them they all get a big kick out of it and agree that Salgado and Hagar capture the sentiment with lyrics that smack of authenticity.</p><p><br /></p><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/2q21eEO36DA" width="480"></iframe></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>“My daddy was wild</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He ran with bad men</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He robbed a drugstore</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>With a filthy syringe</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He got a nickel and a dime</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In the state pen</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And the warden said</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He'd never last</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Well, that wasn't true</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Oh, the story instead</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Yeah, three squares, a blanket</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And a bunkbed</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He did 15 years</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Standing on his head</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And parole</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Came up fast</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>On his release</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He turned to say</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>'I enjoyed myself a vacation stay</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I made some new friends</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Hell, we had a lot of laughs'…”</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The Texas singer-songwriter crowd have nothing over Mr. Salgado.</span></div></div><p>There is so much to praise on this record I honestly don’t know where to begin or end so I will just give you some of my highlights. “Precious Time” is one of several tracks that stands out as deserving heavy rotation on commercial radio. Another track with a timely message, “Precious Time” has a great, sustained slide guitar line reminiscent of Lowell George and Bonnie Raitt interplaying with a nuanced B3 organ. The following track, “Count of Three” reminds me of Elvis circa mid-60's where Elvis could take ordinary material and make it interesting and Curtis has the pipes to do the same on this playful number. </p><p>The next track, "Always Say I Love You (At the End of Your Goodbyes) is a beautiful slow burn ballad which Salgado's performance gets just right in conveying a mixture of longing and pain. "Hail Mighty Caesar" is a horn driven workout with the feel of a mid-80's Roomful of Blues number when Curtis was the lead vocalist (see photo below of Salgado and Roomful at Summerfest in Milwaukee.) </p><p>"I Don't Do that No More" has Salgado channeling Delbert McClinton which is as good a compliment as any singer could get. The songwriting again shines on the title cut "Damage Control" a beautiful mood piece with great interplay between the organ and George Benson-esqe guitar riffs. Salgado shows off his versatility with genres with the help of Wayne Toups on "Truth Be Told", an upbeat zydeco workout. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9hGIRvfGZFLjAPQbDMcmvvXGHYf5AiljH60ukgqVgOb0dGUj86AdGPVBiwQ88JNwS0gaw_ITkXR-I26CNCJxsCOEhXAgklf9ejKp0zQzhebMYzMllm11ESmyAcp9ng542Bj8kwuBwPdf/s1961/Curt+Salgado+Damage+Control+autographed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="923" data-original-width="1961" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9hGIRvfGZFLjAPQbDMcmvvXGHYf5AiljH60ukgqVgOb0dGUj86AdGPVBiwQ88JNwS0gaw_ITkXR-I26CNCJxsCOEhXAgklf9ejKp0zQzhebMYzMllm11ESmyAcp9ng542Bj8kwuBwPdf/w640-h302/Curt+Salgado+Damage+Control+autographed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Salgado's collaborative songwriting prowess shines again on the disc's second to the last track, "The Fix Is In", a topical tale of life in America at a time when a growing number of Americans are watching the sun set on their American Dream. I think one of the easiest (or laziest) things a songwriter can do is go topical and sing about the times they are living in. Like the old adage that anyone can play the blues, but very few can play the blues well, anyone can go topical but very few singers or songwriters can go topical without the end product sounding hackneyed. Salgado and Company again prove to be the exception to the rule with "The Fix Is In". On this track Salgado plays the hip, but world weary protagonist, a working man of the late baby boom generation. Time after time the singer is sold a bill of goods under the guise of the American Dream only to have it snatched away again and again by the usual suspects: the greed heads on Wall Street, unethical businessmen and crooked politicians. The song's witty and intelligent lyrics capture perfectly the angst and fears of a generation, so much so it pissed me off the first several listens.</p><p>The well paced album leaves you feeling good though, thanks to the disc's only cover, a fresh and absolutely rollicking version of Larry Williams classic "Slow Down".</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYToiCH8fg2rORRBlXCq_KLuyKyk-xk7OI23jAmIh3ZSg4bWJf90a81P8Y0JAzJuBfj0ePiWFE11J-m9ECir_FzD0EmOMWeL5WyWbrkfjqz743WZgskd6NhhI8wT2_RQfkdjt88pQ_D5S/s1317/Curtis+Salgado+Ronnie+Earl+Ron+Levy+Roomful+of+Blues++Summerfest+Milwaukee.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYToiCH8fg2rORRBlXCq_KLuyKyk-xk7OI23jAmIh3ZSg4bWJf90a81P8Y0JAzJuBfj0ePiWFE11J-m9ECir_FzD0EmOMWeL5WyWbrkfjqz743WZgskd6NhhI8wT2_RQfkdjt88pQ_D5S/s320/Curtis+Salgado+Ronnie+Earl+Ron+Levy+Roomful+of+Blues++Summerfest+Milwaukee.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>From fronting his own blues band in the late 60's, to vocalist in the early Robert <br />Cray Band to lead vocalist in Roomful of Blues, to a successful solo career the last several decades, Curtis Salgado is by no means a new commodity. The Portland, OR based vocalist's talent has been well known in the music industry but has escaped widespread national attention. With the release of "Damage Control" those days are gone for good.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>(Photo Credits, in order: Jessica Keaveny, Laura Carbone and Plain Sense)</p></div></div>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-15627171759060104042020-12-28T09:51:00.003-06:002023-08-16T13:04:31.075-05:00Remembering Ted Hawkins; Born October 28, 1936; Died January 1, 1995: Passing Mention of Ted Hawkins at Christmas Eve Family Gathering Leads to Strange Conversation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9g1fV8iyv8wCox91jDC-s2dXR3VAWT7qkNOevL7_BD0czivZKY7l5XOEvnUHm-kH4UAwDeBmLzgLLBgQ1iLD5dpCRa84bRuobsL6ObY9hNSVcoHgEFen37vK6ZRlRLVVhRZh1kv9DkA4/s456/Ted+Hawkins+studio+shot.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="348" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9g1fV8iyv8wCox91jDC-s2dXR3VAWT7qkNOevL7_BD0czivZKY7l5XOEvnUHm-kH4UAwDeBmLzgLLBgQ1iLD5dpCRa84bRuobsL6ObY9hNSVcoHgEFen37vK6ZRlRLVVhRZh1kv9DkA4/w496-h438/Ted+Hawkins+studio+shot.JPG" width="496" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">New Years Day 2021 will mark the 26th anniversary since the passing of one of the most unforgettable and indominable spirits in American music, Ted Hawkins. If you are not familiar with the name Ted Hawkins it is not surprising because his life and career was a study in how immense talent is no match for powerful life adversities of which Ted had more than his fair share. Born black and poor in Mitchell, Mississippi during the height of the Great Depression to an alcoholic mother and abandoned at an early age by his father, Ted's mother resorted to prostitution to survive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With no father and little supervision, Ted became increasingly difficult to control, so his mother sent him to the Oakley Training School run by the Mississippi Human Services Department for what Ted would later describe as "misbehaving". Such facilitates are euphemistically referred to as reform schools or Boys Towns today, but this was Mississippi in the Jim Crow1940's and Ted was a poor Black child. Yet, ironically, it was at this unlikely place that Ted would have a seemingly chance encounter that would cause him to change course. A pattern that would follow him throughout his life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For it was here that Ted's singing caught the attention of one of the facility's counselors, Henry Byrd. Mr. Byrd, more famously known as Professor Longhair, arranged with the school for Ted to accompany him when he went on the road to play gigs. It was not long before the Professor, (or"Fess") had him singing backup or as the warm up act. Ted would never return to Oakley. While some would point to this as some kind of divine intervention or anointment, it was Mr. Hawkins' strong sense of self-preservation, hard work and dogged perseverance that led to his glimpses of success. But success came to Mr. Hawkins in spurts and stutters, mainly abroad (e.g. UK and Europe). In his life's final irony, just as he was experiencing sustainable success in his native land he was felled by a stroke on December 28, 1994 and taken from us four days later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since today is Christmas I thought I would share a Christmas Eve story from twenty years ago that still has me shaking my head and is a reminder to all to keep trying because sometimes, something that is extremely improbable, the proverbial one in a million longshot, comes in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I first encountered Ted Hawkins unknowingly and by sheer serendipity. By unknowingly I mean I did not know the name of the man I was watching and listening to. There was, however, one thing I did know about him, he made one hell of a first impression that was seared into your brain and once made you would never forget. It was November of 1985 and my father mentioned in passing he had a frequent flier voucher that was about to expire and he was too busy to use it. I was still in law school and though Fall semester exams were looming, I was not about to let the opportunity for a free trip anywhere in the continental U.S. pass me by. As it was November in Minnesota with a long winter ahead, I pondered warm destinations where friends lived. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I immediately thought of my old friend, Andy, who I attended high school with outside of Washington, D.C. back in the late 1970's. After high school I had moved back to Minnesota to attend the U of M and Andy went to OU (The Ohio University) in Athens. Following college graduation, Andy had made his way out to Los Angeles to successfully pursue a career in video editing and production. I had been wanting to get back in touch with my old friend for years but one of us was always busy or I lacked the resources to make it happen. Even though I would have less than three days to make the roundtrip from Minneapolis to L.A., a free trip is a free trip. I gave my pal a call and he graciously consented to my inviting myself for a visit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know the exact date I left on my trip to L.A. because my flight left Monday evening, November 17th. I know this because Andy was bummed that my flight was scheduled to arrive during the Monday Night Football game and his beloved 'Skins (Washington Football Club) were playing that night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Being a native Minnesotan and life-long Vikings fan, missing some or all of a 'Skins' game was not a big deal for me. I suffered through 10 football seasons in the 1970s, arguably the most successful in the Vikings' franchise history, unable to watch my favorite team's games on Sundays. Instead, at that time, your only choice to watch a NFL football game on Sunday was to watch the local team's game and if it was a home game it was only televised if it was sold out. As I lived in Northern Virginia, my only choice on Sundays was to <span>watch</span> the Foreskins game. Naturally, this lack of choice meant I despised the Washington Football Club and especially disliked their cocky quarterback Joey Theismann. My problem with Theismann was two-fold: First, he played his college ball at Norte Dame and second, was the manner in which he left his wife and kids for tv celebrity Cathy Lee Crosby. Public opinion around D.C. felt sorry for the discarded wife and kids and to many it appeared that his football success had inflated his already hefty ego to the point where he felt he deserved a trophy girlfriend on his arm as he navigated higher social circles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When Andy met me at LAX he looked agitated and anxious, I could immediately sense that there was something wrong, really wrong. So wrong I instinctively knew this was not about me interrupting his game by having to pick me up at the airport, rather, he tells me that Theismann had suffered a broken leg. Not only did he break his leg the injury was caught on live t.v. and was incredibly gruesome and horrific.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My old friend and die-hard Redskin fan was not expecting what next came out of my mouth: "YAHOO!" I screamed. Followed by "Ain't Karma a bitch!" and "I gotta see this for myself!" Bewildered by my reaction and in utter pain and dismay over the prospects of his favorite team snapping like a dried twig and blowing away in an instance, Andy gave me the thousand mile stare of a shell shocked soldier. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> As we were closer to his work than his residence in West Hollywood, Andy drove directly to the video production company where he was employed. He assured me it was no problem as nobody would be there this time of night and besides he was recording the game there so as not to miss any of it while picking me up at the Airport. It also gave him the opportunity to show me the state of the art, professional audio visual equipment he used at work. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Due to the time of night, we had no problem finding a parking space right in front. Andy narrated a quick tour of the premises as he led me to what I would call a control or editing room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFpGc3aq9Udoka1Samjiwd6OmHl-cuGZ33yaeMhWlofjJecvwEi5CfJrS8lY_3QqYdwe89jAd7MuX_M8GMVCRtoC82vIOPZfysjBMK0_DnAGFcX69rnx5hsidO1xhF18nqGf_r8pjC1OE/s715/Theismann+leg+snapping+like+a+dried+twig.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="715" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFpGc3aq9Udoka1Samjiwd6OmHl-cuGZ33yaeMhWlofjJecvwEi5CfJrS8lY_3QqYdwe89jAd7MuX_M8GMVCRtoC82vIOPZfysjBMK0_DnAGFcX69rnx5hsidO1xhF18nqGf_r8pjC1OE/w640-h428/Theismann+leg+snapping+like+a+dried+twig.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We must have watched the play where Theismann's leg was broken a dozen times from multiple angles, focusing in and enlarging his ankle and watching the compound fracture at different speeds: normal, speeded-up but the best was definitely the super slow motion. The first couple times Andy replayed it were met with uproarious laughter punctuated by cruel comments and cat calls, but the more times we watched the quieter we got until even I was no longer getting off on it. "Seen enough?" Andy asks me. "Yeah, I can't watch anymore" I respond. What I was thinking, but kept to myself at the time, was that I was almost beginning to feel sorry for Theismann and that was a feeling I absolutely did not want so off we went to his house in West Hollywood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next day being a Tuesday my friend had to work. Before he left he asked if there was anything I wanted to do in the short time I had before my return flight on Wednesday. "Nah, I've been to L.A. as a kid and have done the tourist thing, I think I would like to see the beach and just kick back". Besides, it was mid November which is well into winter weather back in Minnesota and Minnesotans will always try to get a little tan if they are lucky to get a chance to escape the frozen tundra. "Okay", Andy said, "take the Santa Monica Bus Line all the way, past UCLA until you get to the end of the line and you will be at Venice Beach. Here is my work number call me this afternoon with where you are at and I will meet you there after I get off work ". "Cool" I called out as Andy headed out the door.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hang out around my friends pool in the morning before heading out on my bus trip to Venice Beach. I kill time people watching, drinking fresh squeezed orange juice sold by the vendors that dot the landscape and scouting for a good bar to meet my friend when he gets off work. I eventually find what looks like the perfect place, so much so it could have been the proverbial beach bar out of a Keith Sykes song. Funny thing is I now cannot remember its name, but maybe there is an explanation for that, besides early onset Alzheimer's.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Around 4 PM I call Andy with my location and tell him I have a front row table overlooking the boardwalk (sidewalk?) so he can't miss me. I catch the waitress's eye and order a Tequila Sunrise and kick back to watch a glorious sunset slowly get consumed into the Pacific Ocean. I am in heaven and I can see why people flock to California to live. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqc5bekEyAIJ574stAzSo8MGtsysDXZJGMUssu6-i7XOGsZj4DhB94abIkW50W1Wjfk-4G1zt7PEkoGIS7SRMZzV-Hxvpi1PHhPZ_J27-LkDk2d4C6aOdNuzZK_AczJMKqKew8swIp5Ly/s241/Ted+Hawkins+walking+with+crate+and+guitar.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqc5bekEyAIJ574stAzSo8MGtsysDXZJGMUssu6-i7XOGsZj4DhB94abIkW50W1Wjfk-4G1zt7PEkoGIS7SRMZzV-Hxvpi1PHhPZ_J27-LkDk2d4C6aOdNuzZK_AczJMKqKew8swIp5Ly/s0/Ted+Hawkins+walking+with+crate+and+guitar.JPG" /></a>It was at that moment of utter bliss that I see coming my direction, like an apparition, a large guy carrying a guitar case and a box of some kind. The closer he gets, little details start to emerge like, that is not a box, but a milk crate and I also notice he is wearing a glove with no fingers, something you would never wear in Minnesota for fear of frostbite. This is going to sound terrible, especially in hindsight, but I start praying to myself: "Please God, please God let the man pass by without stopping...Oh Please God!" You guessed it. Almost as if God heard my pathetic plea and decided to teach me a lesson, the guy sets up directly across from me in front of my view of the sunset. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNq8TP9PxcVn-C7IcILV375LaOJcmoO6ecqBNMaBCk3aidy83EB2rEBDgq6hbz1OJMfUCU0qtM7vGYo6ujlE05rlFaYXFz5C4fE-NFuRWnLjRSgfCxUeG2b_n7q9LJcQt18sw3rnR3i7P/s620/Ted+Hawkins+sitting+Venice+Beach.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNq8TP9PxcVn-C7IcILV375LaOJcmoO6ecqBNMaBCk3aidy83EB2rEBDgq6hbz1OJMfUCU0qtM7vGYo6ujlE05rlFaYXFz5C4fE-NFuRWnLjRSgfCxUeG2b_n7q9LJcQt18sw3rnR3i7P/s320/Ted+Hawkins+sitting+Venice+Beach.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Just great!" I think to myself. Although I am a huge music lover and idolize my favorite musicians like some of my friends worship sports heroes, I do not suffer fools. Besides I was looking forward to catching up with a good friend who I had not seen in years and last thing I needed was a bad mariachi band extorting me for tips, not to play, but to silence them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the man was setting up I could feel my whole body begin to constrict and wince for what surely was to come would be terrible. Then to my utter disbelief and astonishment what came out was good and the more he played the more you appreciated the man's talent. Unique arrangements of classic soul and r n b that balanced the original material, some of which although dark, were delivered with such earnestness and conviction that they became almost joyful. My friend arrived and he immediately asked, somewhat skeptically, if the guy was any good. By the end of the song he walked in on had finished the first words out of Andy's mouth were "Hey, this guy is pretty good!" It was not long before my friend and I became lost reminiscing and then we were off to the Apple Pan for burgers. My biggest regret to this day is not going over to the musician to thank him and slip him a tip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fast forward to some time after returning from my trip, my older brother walks into my room raving about this album he just bought and shows me the cover.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJs_o6n5rnEcmfbH8fn6fHh6JcVcK3C-tSEH3U5T7yazRZwgzge6TOuJSru5nK-ZpYigz0hF5CSWLp21a5FpncxmrcqGekbm_2MuVlEMXk-hEbreE2g-VOcA24zE3-bW_3wHKe-TSKA-w/s2000/Ted+Hawkins+watch+your+step.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJs_o6n5rnEcmfbH8fn6fHh6JcVcK3C-tSEH3U5T7yazRZwgzge6TOuJSru5nK-ZpYigz0hF5CSWLp21a5FpncxmrcqGekbm_2MuVlEMXk-hEbreE2g-VOcA24zE3-bW_3wHKe-TSKA-w/s320/Ted+Hawkins+watch+your+step.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I couldn't speak for several moments, frantically pointing as my mind tried to process the disconnect. "I - I - I saw that guy on the Venice Beach boardwalk when I was out in California visiting Andy!" I stammered. "That makes sense..." my brother says, adding "...apparently he moved to England and is big in the UK and Europe these days".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I could finally put a name to the mysterious busker who so impressed me and armed with that knowledge I sought out everything I could on Ted Hawkins but there wasn't a lot out there. As time passed, "Watch Your Step" became one of the most cherished albums I owned and I never tired telling about my chance encounter with this enigmatic character. But what I really wanted was to see him live again. It was quite a wait. Then one day out of the blue, that same brother who turned me on to "Watch Your Step" and later "Happy Hour" walked in to my house clutching concert tickets and announced "I got us one of the front tables at the Fine Line for Ted Hawkins! Happy Birthday and Deja Vu!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzm-7X0kw2QwrNdxBXKblrCxKm5a2tx7DKazuMeNenzShE_Sd6DHodiPSThGiL6owmPfsjcX0KGWNPmrixFavVcoVqlp3uZwRzmBnlqrr5G9otmf7-44KWsOSkDzI5X_BCIA7ose0qWyI/s2048/Ted+Hawkins+Tix+stub+Fine+Line+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1776" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzm-7X0kw2QwrNdxBXKblrCxKm5a2tx7DKazuMeNenzShE_Sd6DHodiPSThGiL6owmPfsjcX0KGWNPmrixFavVcoVqlp3uZwRzmBnlqrr5G9otmf7-44KWsOSkDzI5X_BCIA7ose0qWyI/s320/Ted+Hawkins+Tix+stub+Fine+Line+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So on October 7, 1994, my brother Pete and I are sitting at one of the front tables at one of the nicest music cafes in Minneapolis waiting for a street busker I had seen nine years earlier by accident while on a trip to California. Since that time this unknown street busker has gone over to and conquered the UK and Europe and had become one of my favorite singer songwriters. More importantly for the artist himself, this underdog of all underdogs was beginning to get the recognition he so richly deserved here, at home, in his own country. Surely, life can't get any better, sadder or stranger than this! Or Can it?</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Fine Line Show was a smash success and Ted had created quite a stir in the Minneapolis Music scene. The buzz on Ted had grown so loud, so fast, that they quickly booked Ted for another show in a larger venue, the Guthrie Theater in January 1995. My brother again rushed out to get tickets. Then, like a punch to the solar plexus, we get the tragic news of Ted's death on January 1, 1995 following a stroke he suffered on December 28, 1994. It is still so painful I had to stop as I type this and it took many years before I could listen to his music. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Life moves on and years pass and I can again listen to his music and again take great pleasure in introducing the uninitiated to the great Ted Hawkins. Then in 1999 my father passes away and the year before that my Uncle Harry passed away. The deaths in our fathers' generation got my cousins and our families nostalgic for the family Christmas gatherings we attended as kids. So in the early 2000s my cousin Hal graciously volunteered to host a Christmas Eve gathering at his home in suburban Minneapolis. Hal had gone on to become an executive for a nationwide video rental chain headquartered in the same suburb of Minneapolis where Prince built his studio.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I am the youngest of my parents five children and both my parents were the youngest child in their respective families, for years I was always the youngest at family gatherings and all my cousins were considerably older and socialized with my older siblings. The point I am trying to make is I did not talk alot about things like music with my cousins except the older I got the more I got to know and respect the musical opinions of Hal's eclectic brother Tommy who was 10 years ahead of everyone and into bands like Television and the Ramones when they first came out. I laugh now looking back on our conversations where I would say "I can't understand how anyone can like that crap! They can't even play their instruments!" as he would patiently try and explain what the punk scene was all about with a bemused look on his face, that in retrospect, I now realize meant "I wish I could be there when this dumb kid has his epiphany". Hal's music tastes on the other hand went to the other extreme such as the Lettermen and his favorite the Four Freshmen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So in this setting and with this background I give you the denouement to my Ted Hawkins story. I must have been off in a corner talking music with my brother and cousin Tommy trying to top each other with our vast music knowledge and who had the superior music taste, when I mention Ted Hawkins and how serendipity played such a big role not only in how I learned of him but in Ted's career as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was at this point that my cousin Hal, the Four Freshmen fan, hearing the name Ted Hawkins from across the room, walks over and says to his hipster brother and 2 cousins: "Did you say Ted Hawkins?" and we all just kind of nod at him waiting impatiently for his pointless interruption of mistaken identity to be over. "Was he a black guy in his late 50's?" Now he has our attention and we all say "yes". "He wouldn't be a musician of some kind?" "Yeah" we respond wondering where in the Hell he is going with this. "Well...", says Hal, "... if we are talking about the same guy, I meet him once." Adding, "As a matter of fact, he performed a private concert for us in our conference room back in 1994 just before Christmas."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the three of us pick our jaws up off the ground and I am able to get the wind back in my lungs, I startled everyone in the room. "What?" I shriek in disbelief. "There is No way!", I say. Hal explains very matter of factually, It was getting late in the afternoon the day before we close the office for Christmas vacation when the receptionist buzzes me and says there is a man here who would like to speak with whoever is in charge of selecting inventory for video tape rentals. "Does he have an appointment?" Hal asks. "No" comes the reply. "What's his name?" Hal asks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Ted Hawkins", comes the reply. "Never heard of him, but send him in anyway".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ted explained how he was a musician and has a video he is promoting that he would like their stores to carry. "I know you might have never heard of me and that is why I would like to play something for you and your workers." Although no one have ever heard of him and despite everyone being in a hurry to start their Christmas vacation and attend to last minute errands, they agree and the remaining staff of less than 10 people gathered in a conference room for what may well have been Ted Hawkins last performance. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CSXpA8Ly-Kg" width="320" youtube-src-id="CSXpA8Ly-Kg"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>What I would have given to be in attendance! After Ted would finish a song there would be an awkward silence and one or more of the staffers would quietly sneak out of the room until it was down to just Hal who thanked him for his audition and they would keep him in consideration adding when you are done could you please close the door behind you when you leave.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shortly before his passing Ted recorded the following acapella version of a self-penned number, "Great New Year".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vd-8mPkroxw" width="320" youtube-src-id="vd-8mPkroxw"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-8128709060368954192020-11-06T09:24:00.004-06:002020-11-30T01:57:37.800-06:00Watch the Rats Scurry to Get off SS Trump NOW that Pennsylvania has Flipped<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJaP0tSGMSV3OAfABffYmRYx-Nd4TmBP3yFMEELYcVnguWnF9kVoLMe9MRq636eL75vdG9npp6v0_gyY8oBK7gBF9l5VJyUXzkDuk1dY3zFfli37nt7ExnSwlDCUebzY2DOEG-oMwfQ7g/s448/goodshiptrump.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="448" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJaP0tSGMSV3OAfABffYmRYx-Nd4TmBP3yFMEELYcVnguWnF9kVoLMe9MRq636eL75vdG9npp6v0_gyY8oBK7gBF9l5VJyUXzkDuk1dY3zFfli37nt7ExnSwlDCUebzY2DOEG-oMwfQ7g/w640-h368/goodshiptrump.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the GOP sat on their hands as a United States President attacked the integrity of our democratic system and blatantly called on his followers to join him in defying the will of the American people, just watch as they trample each other to flee the ship now that the vote count in Pennsylvania has flipped. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rHTtiYFYDog" width="320" youtube-src-id="rHTtiYFYDog"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzYh6GxJoA0XDU2_uWhVOeOenEbx1VXvGQ4-kIwMpBPxsclGZEpMf8i3hcX7YbaDOBXIbKCYB3Tc18MgLFugw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*Political satire is FREE SPEECH, NOT a violation of community guidelines*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On behalf of elephants everywhere I demand that the Republican Party replace the noble pachyderm as their symbol. If truth in advertising applied to political parties the new symbol of the GOP would be an Alzheimer patient who was denied healthcare after the GOP killed the Affordable Care Act in the courts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xZfVfLuuVpNigaisdME9ZdRCtVCmVzi9ymY_LW_-UisLK9zLDTw2ipNrZm72MPgNrKX7I37gE6cVmr_AqjhnBSznK5vp5tHAyirQVpmf4ZFLKGz3Zef1fjs9ziNKH34wMXDkTqeYEBxd/s947/gopkillaca.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="947" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xZfVfLuuVpNigaisdME9ZdRCtVCmVzi9ymY_LW_-UisLK9zLDTw2ipNrZm72MPgNrKX7I37gE6cVmr_AqjhnBSznK5vp5tHAyirQVpmf4ZFLKGz3Zef1fjs9ziNKH34wMXDkTqeYEBxd/w640-h208/gopkillaca.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974938585400108547.post-51430445331794211252020-10-31T11:11:00.001-05:002020-10-31T11:11:54.010-05:00A Poem to Sum Up the 2020 Presidential Election By Elayne Griffin Baker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbywL0-XR-pczDxVOt7eKo6C7G6OBjn25FWDykIDovijzAox9p8Eo007QwmSyOK4MNJxoofm-YIqHbWH2seX2EGejkgDzL_75l8Q2cNwfUuL8g7fc5ozdmENg3PdCYts9ZiDcLgtcIBA8/s771/White+House+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="771" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbywL0-XR-pczDxVOt7eKo6C7G6OBjn25FWDykIDovijzAox9p8Eo007QwmSyOK4MNJxoofm-YIqHbWH2seX2EGejkgDzL_75l8Q2cNwfUuL8g7fc5ozdmENg3PdCYts9ZiDcLgtcIBA8/w640-h426/White+House+.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">“There is no art in this White House.</p><p style="text-align: center;">There is no literature or poetry in this White House. No music. …</p><p style="text-align: center;">There are no pets in this White House.</p><p style="text-align: center;">No man’s best friend. No Socks the family cat.</p><p style="text-align: center;">No kid’s science fairs.</p><p style="text-align: center;">No times when this president takes off the blue suit-red tie uniform and becomes human, except when he puts on his white shirt- khaki pants uniform and hides on the golf course.</p><p style="text-align: center;">There are no images of the first family enjoying themselves together in a relaxing moment — anywhere.</p><p style="text-align: center;">No moments like Obamas on the beach in Hawaii, or Bushes fishing in Kennebunkport, no Reagans on horseback, no Kennedys playing touch football on the Cape. …</p><p style="text-align: center;">Where did that country go?</p><p style="text-align: center;">Where did all the fun and joy and expressions of love and happiness go? We used to be a country that did the ice bucket challenge and raised millions for charity.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We used to have a president that calmed and soothed the nation instead of dividing it.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And a First Lady that planted a garden instead of ripping one out.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We are rudderless and joyless.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We have lost priceless cultural aspects of society that make America great.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We have lost our mojo. Our fun, our happiness.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The cheering on of others.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The shared experiences of humanity that makes it all worth it.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The challenges AND the triumphs that we shared and celebrated.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The unique can-do spirit Americans have always been known for.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We are lost.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We have lost so much in so short a time.”</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/springsteen/status/1321507795150106624" target="_blank">On Nov. 3, vote them out</a>.</p>Plain Sensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04996902450378940341noreply@blogger.com0