Localvore of the Blues – chefjimi stays home for a change!

 

Good folks, sooner or later it had to happen. Yes it did - yours truly, stayed home and got to enjoy some fine, fine blues in Rochester, NY. As a matter of fact I came home early from South Carolina so I could attend the Big Rib BBQ & Blues Fest on Saturday to see Harper, Roomful of Blues and Charley Musselwhite.

 

Hot on the heels of her latest release, Holdin' Court, on the Vizz Tone Label group, Ms. Debbie Davies and her band hit the road in support of it, and once again proved that she is one of the most talented guitar players in the Blues scene.
Arriving just prior to the latest bombardment of snow that has plagued the East Coast, Debbie bestowed countless blessings on the larger than usual crowd at the Dinosaur BBQ (where the music is always free) in Rochester, NY.

What? Well the semi-official slogan of Austin, Texas (state capitals for $500) is ‘Keep Austin Weird’ and on a gorgeous Tuesday night here at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Fest (Ok we need to shorten that!) the very talented and possible poster girl for that slogan brought some of that vibe to town.

Playin’ the Blues on Clay

Awwrite babies, yours truly has seen the Blues performed in a wide variety of venues ranging from vast natural sites (Red Rocks) to small clubs the size of your linen closet. But this past Saturday (6/6) had to be by far one of the oddest that I can recall.

No Pedals Required Sean Carney Band Smokes the Dinosaur BBQ June 3, 2009

When: June 7, 2009 Where: Water Street Music Hall Stuff: Workshop 11am – 2 pm, Concert 4-9pm

Last year, in this space, I wrote about this event, and it’s being long overdue for Rochester, and the possibilities it offered for tourist and locals alike. I am thrilled that, once again, this year there will be a concert honoring Son House and benefits the Catholic Family Center’s Francis Center, a homeless shelter for men here in Rochester, NY. All proceeds from this event will go directly to the men in crisis served by the Center.

…blues that swings and shouts

So what is it with Chi-Town? It’s a known fact that the Delta musicians came there to escape the yoke of southern oppression, which lead way to the second city’s well earned reputation as the northern home for the blues. They had Muddy, The Wolf, Otis Spann, yeh we can recite their names almost like the rosary. But the past can only show the way for the future, and after seeing Chicagoan Liz Mandeville Wednesday night at the Dinosaur (where the music is always free) BBQ, the future is on a good and wide path.

Johnny Winter Band, Still Alive and Well The German House, March 7, 2009

Ok so all y’all out there reading this lil’ bit o’ knowledge who, as of today, have not registered on the Bluescruise Chat Board, close the page NOW. Your other choice is to go to the top of the page and ‘register’ – wow what a concept –and then come on back in and feel welcomed.

Palpable

\ˈpal-pə-bəl\, adjective 14th century Middle English, from Late Latin palpabilis, from Latin palpare to stroke, caress, feel