Tag Archives: Memphis

June 6, 2013

Photo Gallery: Candid Shots From Memphis BMAs

Vinny Marini

With the move and all we managed to get some of the small camera shots up and available for y’all here.

Hope ya enjoy them, as much as we did taking them.

Home » Photo Gallery: Candid Shots From Memphis BMAs » BMA Street Scenes

BMA Street Scenes

None of the amazing performances just candid shots of the good folk who were hanging out.

Slideshow

View 18 photos

Love, Peace & Chicken Grease

chefjimi
©Blues411.com 2013
Where Blues Thrives
Photos: Blues411

Share on Facebook

Preview 2013 Blues Music Awards

Blues Music Awards

Yes indeed, it’s our time to shine.

On May 9, 2013 all eyes are turning to Memphis, Tennessee as the 34th Blues Music Awards will take place at the Cook Convention Center. The event brings together Blues performers, industry representatives and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year. Each year, the Blues Foundation presents The Blues Music Awards to the artists selected by its members. They are universally recognized as the highest honor given to Blues artists. As always, a pre-party will immediately precede the Awards. To see the list of nominees visit here.

The Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Charter Members’ Dinner will be held the night before on Wednesday, May 8. Only Charter Members of the Foundation attend this joyous event, but there is so much going on you will surely enjoy the night before.

Without getting into too many words describing what is going on I will post these event posters so you can get the drift of the significance and scope of what goes on here. If you are a Blues fan, or casual dabbler, one visit to Memphis for this event and all that surrounds it will hook ya for life.

Blues Hall of Fame Tribute Jam & Fundraiser for the Raise the Roof Campaign and Music Heals Memphis
At B.B. Kings Blues Club, featuring performances by Russ Green, Zac Harmon, Big LLou Johnson, Bryan Lee, Maria Muldaur, Greg Nagy, John Primer, Jackie Scott, Eddie Shaw, Van Shaw and Redd Velvet. This is the Party After for the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Hosted by SiriusXM Bluesville Proprietor, Mr. Bill Wax, and the ‘voice’ of Bluesville, Big Llou Johnson. There will be a signed Gibson guitar auction ongoing so bring your checkbook,, credit card or cold hard cash to take this baby home.

This event will be broadcast as a live PPV event by VenMundi – visit www.venmundi.com for tickets and more info on the PPV portion.

For more info on event go to: http://blueshalloffamejam.eventbrite.com/#

Memphis Blues Society ‘Jammin’ On Beale Street’

Join the Memphis Blues Society for a night of sweatin’, stompin’ blues from around town and around the world at Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall right there on Beale Street.

At this point we have some insider information that folks like Shakura S’Aida, Kevin Selfe, Barbara Carr, Jeff Jensen, Ms. Ruby and a full tilt of others will be there to jam the night away and make you shake what yo’ mamma gave you.

Stop by after the Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremonies, no cover 7pm – till closing (whenever that may be).

For more info on The Memphis Blues Society click it!

Blind Raccoon/Earwig Music

The Blind Raccoon/Earwig Music Showcase

At the Purple Haze Nightclub, with a full bar and food for all yer cravings, Betsie Brown of Blind Raccoon, and Michael Franks of Earwig Music will be putting on a showcase featuring some of their finest talents. Featuring Andy Cohen, Leo Hull, Tommy McCoy, Guitar Mikey, RB Stone, Johnny Drummer and Chris James & Patrick Rynn.

These are always a joy to be at, there is such a wide variety of musical styles, and Purple Haze is a very cool place to catch live music and meet up with some friends. They make exceptional Bloody Mary’s (trust me on this one), perfect for the morning after, well the 2:00pm after!

Brandon Santini presents ‘The Beale Street Mess Around”

This is a benefit to help Raise The Roof for the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis. Featuring Greg Nagy, John Nemeth, Little G Weevil, Dennis Gruenling, of course the host, Mr. Brandon Santini himself, and many more that will thrill ya and make you do things ya didn’t know you could.

This will be at the (in)famous Rum Boogie Cafe, the seeming headquarters for all ancillary events at the BMA’s this and every year. It will be the first part of a two part party (see below).

The Vizztone Blues Party on Beale

At the aforementioned Rum Boogie Cafe, this is the event that many folks consider the highlight of the week, jus’ sayin’.

No this is not a jam, so leave those axes, 88′s, and mouth harps home and come down to watch the Vizztone collection of artists kick out the jams till they shut down Beale Street.

Featuring Mr. Bob Margolin, Doug Deming, EG Kight, Long Tall Deb, Gina Sicilia, Dave Gross..OK OK OK y’all get the picture here. If not just read the poster.

There are many other things going on these days. On Wednesday night Davina & The Vagabonds and Nick Moss will be in town at rum Boogie, The Blue South entertainment group will be tearing it up at the Hard Rock Cafe on Friday night. During the day on Friday you can mix baseball and the Blues as John Nemeth will play before the Memphis Redbirds take on the Sacramento River Cats (Big Llou will do the 7th inning sing along). Yellow Dog Records will have a showcase Wednesday at BB King’s featuring Colin Linden, Eden Brent and ‘daughter of a bluesman’ Cassie Taylor. Also check out the Center For Southern Folklore where Bill Sims, Jr & Mark Lavoie will be playing, and others thru the week.

So as you can see it’s gonna be a hot time in Memphis town, won”t ya join us – if not this year then plan on it for 2014. Can;t make it this year…..WAIT ….NEWS FLASH SiriusXM Bluesville #70 will be broadcasting the Blues Music Awards LIVE, Thursday beginning at around 7:30 on the East side of town straight thru till the final notes at some point on Friday morning. Listen in as Bill Wax, Tony Colter, Big Llou man the mic’s and special guests stop by to say hi. Too late for you? OK one last chance Bluesville will re-broadcast the musical portions of the awards starting that Friday every hour on the hour thru till Monday 3:00 am, now there is no excuse for not catching even a little bit of our day to honor all the great talent that we have here in the Blues world.

See ya there, stop me and say hi, get yo’ butts to Gus’s Famous Fried Chicken and try the fried pickles also! While there is almost too much to do, remember you can make it if you try, and too much ain’t never enough!

Love, Peace & Chicken Grease

Share on Facebook

Wednesday’s One: James Cotton: Cotton Mouth Man (Alligator Records)

James Cotton
Cotton Mouth Man

These days it is common for artists to play on one and other’s releases, it provides a great opportunity for artistic cooperation and it allows an artist to share the spotlight with others whom he respects and admires.

With that being said check out this release which features the likes of Chuck Leavell, Gregg Allman, Ruthie Foster, Warren Haynes, Keb Mo, Colin Linden, Delbert McClinton and more – that in itself is worth the price of admission then add the production and ferocious drumming (and excellent songwriting) of Tom Hambridge and you got an all-start concert right here on your iPod, iPad, computer et al. But this is not just an all-star gathering, we also get to hear James work with his excellent road band which consists of Tom Holland, Jerry Porter, Noel Neal and aforementioned Darrell Nullisch.

Straight from the first track this release drives right to the soul of the blues and the man who’s name is on the release. ‘Cotton Mouth Man’ starts with a rocking rhythm and goes for the throat with Darrell Nullisch singing lead to some stunning harp attack by the master himself. A deep biographical tune, we get the tour of Mr. Cotton’s trail to today. As (one of the many) guest guitarist Joe Bonamassa sets fire to the fretboard with his own identifiable style and the harp work by Mr. Cotton is both a lesson on how to play and how to REALLY play!

Back to the disc, Mr. Allman offers up some throw back vocals on ‘Midnight Train’ as former Allman Brother keyboardist extraordinaire Chuck Leavell rolls those eighty-eights with a verve and finesse that serves up a solid groove – and when Mr. cotton blows that railroad train styled harp we are at once transported to riding the rails and understanding it’s relationship to the blues harp through out history.

Slowing it down to feature Mr. Keb Mo on vocals we get served a big dish of ‘Mississippi Mud’. There is an understated excellence to Keb’s vocal presentations that might seem so easy to come by but upon listening reveals that if it were this easy then many more would be copping to that fact. The pairing of Mr. Mo and Mr. Cotton provides us with some fine enjoyment as the roll on into the heat and pace of the deep south Blues.

There is not a soft track on this release, and while it is tempting to cover each and every track (because they are all worth the spotlight) I will just hi-light just one more that seems to me a special track. ‘Bonnie Blue’ is the name of the cotton plantation where James was born. Featuring Mr. Colin Linden playing deep soulful resonator guitar while Mr. Cotton steps up to the microphone to sing his own personal thoughts on his birthplace. Think about what this means and says folks, step away from the keyboard and cell phones – listen and ingest what Mr. cottons is singing about and his his own personal path. It is a wonderful and very personal song and it’s reaches straight to your soul.

Thank you Bruce Iglauer, for this release and for providing Mr. Cotton with a world wide network by which his music can be heard. This release is a perfect portrait of an amazing artist and his life’s work and toil. BTW this release hits the streets on May 7, 2013, be the first to grab it and play it loud and proud!

Visit Mr. Cotton’s web home at http://www.jamescottonsuperharp.com/ or stop by Alligator records at http://www.alligator.com/ good times are guaranteed.

Love, Peace & Chicken Grease

Share on Facebook