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THE ROAD |
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STLBlues
has been traveling a bit - N'awlins
and the Jazzfest! The Katrina devastation is still evident in
many parts of this grand city, yet the music still thrives in New
Orleans! As Joe Louis Walker said best, "All the hurricanes in
the world won't keep New Orleans down!" On Jazzfest weekend 2,
day 1, STLBlues braved the 1st 3 hours of the most torrential rains
we've ever experienced at a festival (5 1/2").
When the midway path around the Acura stage became a river 50' wide
and 3' deep, and a couple on an inflatable couch floated on by, most
festgoers called it a day! Of course, upon leaving the fest grounds
the skies let up and the music resumed! They take this in stride down
here in the Big Easy! Later that night, Tab
Benoit and Rockin'
Dopsie at the legendary
Rock N' Bowl helped fill that musical void very nicely!
Amazingly, the next day there was little evidence it had rained at
all! Highlights the final 2 days included Steely
Dan, the Allman
Bro(s), and of course Taj
Mahal!
 Speaking of New
Orleans - Jake of 'Rockin' Jake', a N'awlins band that was flooded
out by Katrina, decided to call St. Louis home, and has since hired
on some of the best sidemen St. Louis has to offer, Rich McDonough
on guitar and Sal Ruelas on bass! Jake is a five-time winner of Off
Beat Magazine's coveted “Best of the Beat” award for best
harmonica player. His band is stronger than ever, and on the road
constantly. New Orleans was unfortunate to lose Jake, but St. Louis
is pleased he choose this city to call home! And STLBlues is doubly
pleased to represent the Rockin' Jake
band as a booking agency!
It was then off to Memphis and the prestigious Blues Music Awards,
followed by Clarksdale and the Hopson Plantation, Helena and King
Biscuit Time Radio show on KFFA
Radio, with 'Sunshine' Sonny Payne. Along the way, New
Orleans community Radio WWOZ and Memphis'
WEVL kept the airwaves filled with the best blues
and
zydeco to be found, making a road trip sound so much better.
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ST.
LOUIS BLUESMEN
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A brief stop in 'Da Lou' to recharge - while in town, this gathering
of St. Louis Blues guitarists and bassists took some time for the
'Baseball,
Blues and Guitars' photo shoot! Just a small sample of the abundance
of St. Louis Bluesmen!
(Left
to right - Mike Eschbach, Eugene Johnson, John May, Charles Hunt,
Leroy Jodie Pierson, Jeremy Segel-Moss)
It's back to the fest circuit for the Chicago Blues Festival, the
Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, and so many more. You see, we're
on a mission here at STLBlues - to give the
Interactive Gig calendar away to EVERY blues band in America and
beyond, so help us spread the word!
Dave Beardsley
Publisher - www.STLBlues.net
Home of the famous Interactive Gig Calendar
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