Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 289 Location: Baltimore, Md
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:29 am Post subject: Road Trip Report
What a way to start the summer!
Last Saturday at the Western Maryland Blues Festival in Hagerstown was quite the happening.
I arrived in time to gobble down a plate of veggie lo-mein (can't drink beer on an empty stomach), ran into an old friend at the gate, grabbed a couple of beers, and headed for the main stage.
My friend was really anxious to hear Albert Cummings, a guitarist who neither of us were familiar with. Well, Albert came out smoking, and never let up. Cummimgs, a self-admitted SRV disciple, was generous with the power chords, sting scrapes and whammy-bar, with a nice gravelly voice to match...kinda like a Tommy Castro on a heavy dose of steroids. Cummings took a stoll out into the appreciative crowd with his wireless Strat, then returned to the stage for a Hendrix medley. Cummings is a real blues-guitar heavyweight.
Time to grab a micro-brew and find some shade as the Otis Taylor Band played in the background...
Next up on the big stage was the Dirty Dozen Brass Band...man, these guys are GOOD! Their guitarist was a real funky, wah-wahy 335 guy...no bass player, but a Sousaphone (tuba) instead, along with 'bone, bari sax and trumpet/flugelhorn. This very eclectic group ran a musical gamut that ranged from funky grooves a la Earth, Wind and Fire, to traditional New Orleans jazz style, and covered a lot a ground in between. Great fun!
Over on a smaller stage, the feature act was setting up. Larry Carton's Sapphire Blues Band and crew were getting ready. I was checking out Greg Mathieson's keyboard setup: a nice Rhodes suitcase model, Hammond B-3, and a Kurtzweil. And next to that were Larry's two OVERDRIVE SPECIALS.
Then the band took the stage and the magic began. They played several selections from the "Sapphire Blue" release, and some chesnuts like "Josie" and "Minute by Minute." Each of the horn players got to take a turn on the bop standard "Tenor Madness."
What a tight band! And what can you say about Larry's playing? My buddy remarked, "It's nice to hear somebody put some space between their notes." Larry evokes B.B King with his tasteful, thoughtful, economic licks, but he can unleash a dizzying flurry of "out" notes, then settle right back into the groove. With that great Dumble-powered tone, no less.
Carlton was clearly having a great time. He was smiling, relaxed, animated...at a couple of points he fired up a cigarettte as he played...he was smokin' while he was smokin' !!! Larry and his band gave the crowd a fantastic hour and a half of world-class jazz, pop and blues.
Grooving with the Sapphire Blues Band worked me up a powerful appetite. So I scored a plate of red beans and rice(and plenty of hot sauce) and trotted over to the main stage for the evening's final act, the baroness of boogie-woogie piano, Marcia Ball.
Marcia Ball is always delightful! She sang a couple of songs up front, then sat down to finish out her set at the piano. She sits crossed-legged at the keys, keeping time by swinging her leg...no sustain pedal needed for this lady! Watching Marcia play is a real study in right-hand, left-hand independence, and makes my tennis elbow hurt! When you add in Marcia's great singing voice, rockin' band and spirited song selection, it makes for a first-class act.
Some other folks featured at this great, three-day musical event were Baltimore locals Kelly Bell and Carl Filipiak, Sonny Landreth, Mose Allison and others...I can't wait to see what next year brings!
Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 886 Location: SF Bay Area
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 2:11 pm Post subject:
You know, I wonder about that. For all the holy grail tone, those things must have reliability issues for Larry to have both sitting there all the time like that. Robben usually has a spare with him and I've seen Daved switch them. But I missed the Santa Cruz blues festival where flames were reportedly shooting out. I also missed the first three songs of a Sonny Landerth show where the same thing must have happened as there was still smoke in the air over the stage when I walked in.
Interesting to see those EV's. Larry had been using JBL Eon's but I actually like the sound of those better. Although for effect return, I'm not sure how critical it is. But he's got an Avalon preamp and all sorts of super high end stuff in there. It's good to be the tone king.
Have to love the tilt back devices though. Three thousand dollar mic preamp and the cabs are sitting on a stick and two rolls of gaffer's tape. _________________ There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 908 Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 4:45 pm Post subject: Re: Road Trip Report
AndyR wrote:
What a way to start the summer!
Great festival report Andy ..... Thank you !
Lucky for me, it's summer in Tampa Bay all year long
Honestly, Tampa is getting a little warm and I'm yearning to get out to the Kalamazoo Blue Festival again this summer... but first, I've gotta get through June
Before hitting Kalamazoo, I'm going to Chicago for the first time !
If anyone has suggestions on their favorite blues venues in Chicago, I'd appreciate the info. Thanks ! _________________ Travelling by train of thought
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 908 Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 5:23 am Post subject: Poconos Road Trip
AndyR wrote:
What a way to start the summer!
Where did the summer go
Today I'll be heading up to the Poconos Blues Festival to see Robert Lockwood Jr I've wanted to see Mr. Lockwood and his band for several years, so I'm pretty psyched about seeing him today.
John Primer, Sharrie Williams, James Blood Ulmer, Latimore, Lil' Ed, Carey & Lurrie Bell, Travis Haddix and Ruth Brown are also on today's lineup.
What a way to end the summer... although the weather will feel like summer for a few more months, public schools in Florida open next week. _________________ Travelling by train of thought
Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 197 Location: San Jose Ca.
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 8:07 am Post subject:
Thanks Phil,
Do you know if it is a 12-S or a 12-L? Carlton at a clinic said he used the EVM12-S because he didn't like the low end created by the 12-L. Now with the Dumble sound the sweetness is gone and there is a noticeable difference in low end with his 335 as compared with the "Room 335" days. Wonder if he changed? I bought an EVM12-S back in the 90s and there is a big difference in the mids and highs, especially with a Mark 1 Boogie.
Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 289 Location: Baltimore, Md
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 11:22 am Post subject: More summer show...
Thought I'd just continue on this thread...
I saw two more great shows in recent days, Coco Montoya, and Brian Wilson.
Coco was at State Theater in Fall Church, Va (same place I saw GAF).
The man has a great blues voice, and plenty of left-handed, upside-down guitar chops to match! (His keyboard player was real good, too.)
Opening act was local guitar-slinger Tom Principato, who joined Coco for a few numbers later on.
All in all, a great, bluesy evening.
Now for something completely different...
The Brian Wilson "Smile!" tour visited Feline Center at the Wolf Trap Park for the Performing Arts (Vienna, Va) last night.
This is quite a production, with full string and horn sections, beaucoup guitar and keyboard players, marimba, vibes, 4-5-6 part vocal harmonies, people randomly dancing around with tambourines...elaborate light show...
These guys sound WAY better than the current incarnation of the Beach Boys!!!
They did all the great, classic Brian Wilson tunes (my fav was "Sail On, Sailor").
They also performed the entire content of the current "SMILE!" Cd, some of which was rather bizzare.
But the musicianship was so impeccible that the bizarreness didn't bother me at all.
Wilson was more engaged (and engaging) then I might have expected, given some reports of recent years.
The essential quality of his genius, I thought, permiated the entire performance; it great that's he still making great music, 40 years hence...
A grand 2+ hour performance, that I would recommend to anyone who loves music.
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 908 Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 5:51 am Post subject: Re: Brian Wilson's Smile
AndyR wrote:
They also performed the entire content of the current "SMILE!" Cd...
A grand 2+ hour performance, that I would recommend to anyone who loves music.
Andy
Hi Andy,
I saw Brian Wilson perform Smile last September when the U.S. tour began. It was a great concert. There is also a TV documentary on the making of Smile. It's full of great stories! Brian tells a story about putting a BIG sandbox in his living room and having the band practice and write music in there Another time he built a tepee in his living room I'd love to be a mouse in his house The whole story behind Smile is very interesting. _________________ Travelling by train of thought
Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 289 Location: Baltimore, Md
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 5:54 am Post subject: "And the road goes on forever..."
As I was saying...
Sonny Landreth followed by Johnny A. !!!
A small venue...close to home...Guinness on tap...
Life is good...
Well, actually Johnny A came on first, just after 9, by which time the place was already filling up with Landreth fans.
How do I know they were Landreth fans?
"Who's this guy?" "Johnny WHO?" "Have you heard this dude before?" "What kind of guitar is that?" Etc...etc...
Didn't take long before there was a club full of new Johnny A fans!
He started with a slow tune (Krea Gata?) and followed up with "The Wind Cries Mary" (I love peoples reaction to this one...as slowly the light of recognition show up on their faces.) After this, Johnny had them wrapped around his finger.
I must say, Johnny was absolutely smoking this night. I pretty much knew what he was going to do beforehand, and he STILL blew me away!!!
His arrangements are very clever, lots of the phrases end with sustained notes, during which time he grabs the whammy bar and gives it a couple of shakes (am I the only one who calls it a "whammy bar?")
Johnny was really stretching to play some of those beautiful chord voicings he uses, and he's a wizard at interspersing melody and chord comping into his tunes.
He played through a little Marshall combo, coaxing tones ranging from pure and bell-like, to down and dirty (possibly Dumble-esque?)
It's amazing that Johnny can carry the whole show on his shoulders without vocals or any other lead instruments, thanks in no small part to his tight rhythm section.
Best compliment overheard: "This guy's the OPENING act???"
Sonny was pretty good too...
My first time hearing Landreth, and the guy really cooks...just some good ol' boys from Loozyanna, eh?
Can't really give lot's of details about Landreth...by the time he came on the place was so packed I couldn't see the stage, or barely move for that matter, but I could hear the hot slide playin' for sure.
Johnny A came out to join Landreth for some tunes...
...maybe next time Sonny will come up and play a few Johnny A tunes!
Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 1504 Location: Methuen, MA
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 6:56 am Post subject:
Nice report there, Andy!
I've been to a couple of shows where Johnny A. wasn't the headliner, and I loved watching people's reactions once they realized how amazing he is. And then, the mad rush to buy Johnny A. cds... _________________ Soul on Eleven
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 908 Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:01 am Post subject: Re: "And the road goes on forever..."
What a show that must've been
Sonny Landreth "live" is wonderful, especially in a small venue. And Johnny A. is amazing -- with, or without a band... I think I like him best when he's Johnny Alone. _________________ Travelling by train of thought
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..... Thank you !
I've wanted to see Mr. Lockwood and his band for several years, so I'm pretty psyched about seeing him today.
