Ian Collard & Lester Butler

Thought I would try my hand at embedding a youtube blues clip into a post here as an experiment and at the suggestion of Brad Knapp to try it. Maybe I'll stick something up every now and then that really peaks my interest, but I don't plan to go overboard with it. I've gotten about as hi-tech as I plan to get on the blog--but a vid every now and then won't hurt. I do figure that anyone reading along on their computer can pull up youtube and search for anyone that I've mentioned during the past 8 months or so.

What prompted Brad's suggestion was a youtube clip that I sent him of Paul 'The Kid' Size playing with Lester Butler's Red Devils at a European festival. It is a good example of his guitar skills. I'm not going to embed that one here, but I am going to share a link that better represents Lester Butler's blues harp when the band was The Blue Shadows and before they signed a recording contract with Rick Rubin and Def American records and that Stephen S turned me onto. Now, you might know that the clip can't be embedded because Checker 764 reserves the right to not allow that. So, I'll pass along the Blue Shadows link. Warning: you might get lost off into some Lester Butler for awhile. The Red Devils were the darlings of the Hollywood set. Particularly promote by the likes of Bruce Willis and Mick Jagger. Some of you might have a bootlegged copy of Mick Jagger's first solo album that was great low down blues backed by the Red Devils, but was never officially released. These guys were on their way when Butler overdosed at age 38.

I am going stick some Collard Greens and Gravy up in here for those that are not familiar with Ian Collard's playing and his band. This is a great example of what the band does when covering the legends such as Howling Wolf and is a good example of what Ian gets going with amplified harp.

The Fabulous Thunderbirds

I got the chance to meet my hero last night and I told him so. In interviews, Kim Wilson always mentions his musical heroes such as Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers whom he shared stages and impressed with his harmonica skills. He speaks of his blues harp influences, such as Little and Big Walter and both Sonny Boys. When I caught up with him a short few minutes before showtime at the Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater (blogged about below), I told him that we didn't have those guys around any longer, "But we still have Kim Wilson". Might sound like a corny thing to say, but I meant it and I think he appreciated it--he sure squeezed my hand firmly. I also told him that I couldn't believe that Johnny Moeller and Mike Keller were both playing with him. He said, "You know those guys?" I told him that, yeah, I had seen them play and felt that they were two of the best blues guitarists around. "Yeah, and I've got 'em now!"

So, with Johnny Moeller stage right, Mike Keller stage left and Kim Wilson smack dab in the middle, The Fabulous Thunderbirds rocked the house in inibitable T-Birds fashion. Nothing different, nothing earthshattering new, just what one comes to expect at a show led down the road by the best damn harp player on the planet. They went from their typical mix of R&B/Soul, stone cold blues and rock 'n' roll, managing to sound as fresh as the day "Tuff Enough" hit the charts and every day since. Even though Wilson is the only thing consistant about the band lineup, he never has hit a stage without the best band mates that he can round up, and this is the best Thunderbirds' contingent that I've ever heard, which was pretty clear from the opening notes that Johnny Moeller hit on his Strat to set an R&B tone with Mike Keller supplying outstanding Telecaster rhythm. Keller laid back on rhthym guitar for several cuts and then stepped forward and began absolutely shredding the night. That's kinda sorta how it went. The Moeller/Keller killer guitar double whammy that I was expecting and hoping to see transpire. Of course, when Kim finally got around to picking up his Astatic mic and blowing through his amp (pictured above-The early '60s Twin sat atop a short speaker cab), I was in harp heaven. He always puts it down way too often, but he gives those that have never heard him a dose of what Chicago blues harp is all about and when he's left on stage alone, blasting a rhythmic orgy of riffs, he leaves little doubt that he IS the master. Also, of course, a band ain't a band without a rhythm section and Kim's hired hands followed, lead, and pushed the band in every direction that it headed. Johnny's drummer brother Jason just flat worked telepathically with bassist Randy Bermudes (Kim's bald headed stunt double). The T-Birds ruled.

The best part about this show is that my daughter Erica and new son-in-law, Danny Ross, my wife, Virginia and son, John all were in attendance with me and got a better understanding of what all the fuss is about (my fuss, anyway). They were thoroughly entertained.

I had caught up with Johnny Moeller while we were enjoying the opening act. I told him that we had met years ago in Bryan, Texas at the Third Floor Cantina. I told him that I had gone over to see Rob Roy Parnell, but sat with my mouth open watching him play guitar. I told him that he sure had a sweet gig now and he gushed about what a treat it was playing with Kim and what a wonderful guy he was. He said that they had just returned from a rewarding European tour and that they should have a cd out by the end of September with this band.

P.S.-Kim said that a movie is in the works about Chess records and that he and the guys are in it. Sweet. That'll be hard to beat. Oh, in the photos at the top of the blog: Johnny's got the Strat and Mike's doing it up on the Telecaster. Anyway--

The Band (of Heathens)

I had researched a bit about the band that was due to open for The Fabulous Thunderbirds at the Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater in College Station and knew to expect a talented group that was the latest "Buzz" out of Austin. They absolutely lived up to their billing and pretty much impressed the substantial crowd at the site, which is a really fine venue operated by the College Station parks department complete with a moat that separates the stars on stage from the stargazers.

Back in the day, when I wrote a little more often on my live music experiences, I would have had a pen and tablet in hand jotting down impressions as they happened and duly noting set lists. It's more enjoyable to just let it flow and relate from memory--faulty or not. Not as much need to go into background, bio information because all that is available at a mouse click. Let me just say that these guys are going to be stars--if not as a group, then individually. As a group, though, they have a remarkable chemistry that works on all levels.

Take the Band, Little Feat, mix in a touch of Lynard Skynard and mash it all together and you'll have an idea of what the Band of Heathens sound like. Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist and Colin Brooks take turns singing on each others songs that I'm certain will end up on radio playlists frequently. All three play guitar on stage in various combinations of the stringed instrument--acoustic, dobro, electric Fenders, electric slide, lap steel, etc...with Brooks strapping on the most variety. All three demostrated complete command of the instruments and making them work harmoniously and harmony can absolutely be applied to their vocals, as most of the songs had a chorus that everyone joined in on, included bassman, Seth Whitney, and drummer, John Chipman. They made joyful, glorious, toneful sounds when they all chimed into the rhythm.

I'll be honest in saying that I'm not sure who was who during the proceedings and I'm a little too lazy right now to conduct the reseach by listening to their cd for the fourth time today. Last night, though, one of the guys had an excellent voice for the bluesy stuff that they laid out, another gave 'em a country feel and the other got them rock and rolling. Bottom line is this: They ain't the blues, but they could do it and anything else Americana. They COULD sing, COULD play the hell out of guitars and did it all on very well written songs. Just go and check them out at:

http://www.bandofheathens.com/ . Anyway--Up Next: The T-Birds.