Atlanta to Tallahassee by Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms

(Memphis, Tennessee) We depart the home of the Blues heading to Atlanta via Nashville where we stopped to do a little business on Thursday. Drummer and fellow road dog Doug McMinn and I made it to Atlanta late Thursday night for a quick late night meal and arose to load in at Blind Willie's on Friday.

Blind Willie's, Atlanta, Georgia

Blind Willie's is a great location for Blues, Jazz and Roots music and owner Eric King always has a full house of music fans.

Blues fans pile into Blind Willie's

Reba Russell and Eric King

After a tasty meal at the club we launched onstage. Last year about this time we played a truly enjoyable wedding reception here at the club for our newlywed friends, Ginger and Louis, who were here at the club to join us for this evening's celebration.

STAX songwriter and recording artist William Bell with our friends Louis and Ginger

Also in the club was the legendary William Bell, songwriter and STAX recording artist. William is a wonderful musician and a genuinely friendly, dignified gentleman who was kind enough to hang out with us all night long and allow me to shoot a few pictures of him. We were really honored that he came out for the Reba Russell Band's return to Blind Willie's.

In 1961, William Bell wrote the the hit, "You Don't Miss Your Water" while playing in New York with Memphis jazz piano genius Phineas Newborn. It is a moving, beautiful song written about being homesick for his home and friends.

Josh Roberts and William Bell

Later while collaborating with Booker T. Jones, Bell wrote "Born Under a Bad Sign" which was recorded by Albert King and released by STAX in 1967 on King's first STAX LP which was named after this title song. It is one of King's landmark blues recordings. The tune was later recorded by Eric Clapton with the band, Cream, and many others down through the years. In 1997 Bell was inducted in to the Georgia Music Hall Of Fame. The same year he received the Rythm & Blues Pioneer Award. He has recorded 15 albums.


We played 3 sets and the crowd could not have been kinder and more receptive. The next morning we headed south to Tallahassee, Florida, to play the Bradfordville Blues Club.

"Party down" area behind the Bradfordville Blues Club, a legit juke joint down a dirt road
The fire from the previous evening is still smoldering in the background.

Time to load in the gear

Alberta Hunter, Clarence Carter, Little Milton

Gary Anton, owner of the club was on hand to greet us, help us load in and set up the sound. The walls and tables are adorned with painted likenesses of many blues artists who have previously played the Bradfordville Blues Club.

The sign reads, "Requests $1.00 Mustang Sally $10.00"
there's painting s of my friends Hubert Sumlin and James Cotton

The stage before the load in

The club has an excellent PA system and is frequented by a regular cadre of blues aficionados, some of whom even have their own chairs awaiting them at the bar...too cool.

Reba Russell and club owner Gary Anton

Monolithic, beautiful tree outside the club...dig the Spanish moss

Gary escorted us down to the band house, which is located near the club. It is a very comfortable house replete with more blues artwork...very comfortable digs, a comfy pad with a kitchen with a full pantry of groceries. Thanks Gary and BBC.

Fireplace in the band house

Josh Roberts and Wayne Russell watch tv in the band house

More art inside the band house, renditions of Little Walter and Lightnin' Hopkins

Art adorns the hallway

Doug McMinn operates the official American Blues News computer after Josh cooks some eggs and heads for the couch.

Spanish moss in the light of the full moon

The club glows magically in the moonlight

Fans begin to arrive at the club for a night of Blues

paintings of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Bobby Rush are signed by the musicians

Tabletops feature paintings, table 32, Diamond Teeth Mary

Table 7, Kenny Neal

Doug McMinn prepares for a drum assault

Little Ed

Johnny Winter

Inside the front door

Clarence Carter, Little Milton Campbell

Eddie Kirkland and Percy Sledge

Elwood points the way in

Josh Roberts leans back into a ripping solo

Charlie Musselwhite

The Reba Russell Band

Our gig was simulcast on streaming internet radio and I began to receive messages from my friends who had tuned in at about 1:30 AM. The internet is a marvel.

Wayne and Josh play in the shadow of the image of my friend, Pat Ramsey, who died in 2008. Pat and I used to hang out a lot on Beale Street back at the old Black Diamond after I finished my gig there and he finished his gig across the street at what was Doe's Place, now known as Blues City Cafe. He was a fine harp player who played with Johnny Winter. He was a good friend.

Above, my friend, bandleader and confidante, Reba Russell. Probably the best day of my life was the day I joined her band 20 years ago. It's just gotten better with time.

After the gig. Gary hooked us up with enormous plates of catfish and mullet, perfectly cooked and festooned with hot sauce. It was absolutely delicious. The end of a truly wonderful day.

Doug McMinn and the author prepare for the ride back to Memphis.

RCT

©Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms, 2010

Mississippi Valey Blues Festival in Davenport

(Memphis, Tennessee) Here's a few more shots of our fun trip to Kankakee, Illinois, where we played July 3 at the River Bend Bar and Grill for the Friends of the Blues. Fireworks photo above by Doug McMinn.

author, photo by Amanda McMinn

Reba Russell
photo by Amanda McMinn

Doug and Amanda McMinn

Wayne Russell and Josh Roberts compare facebook accounts and play the blues

photo by Amanda McMinn

It all starts off innocently
To the tune of Jerry Lee Lewis singing, "What made Milwaukee Famous..."

And then, before you know it, the Crazy Guggenheim effect...

Reba and Wayne Russell.
photos by Amanda McMinn

On July 4th the Reba Russell Band arose and traveled to Davenport, Iowa, to play the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival on the banks of the Mississippi River. First we checked into our hotel and signed a bunch of festival posters for the Mississippi Valley Blues Society.

The mighty Mississippi River

The Lodge in Davenport...what a cool old hotel!

cherubs on the sconces everywhere

Descending to head to the show on the groovy old elevator

Ornate is great.

Pianoforte in the front lobby.

The Lodge in Tudor style glory

The festival had a great lineup for this Sunday: The Legendary Blues Cruise Revue featuring Tommy Castro and Debbie Davies, the Reba Russell Band, Dave Riley and Bob Corritore, and The Nighthawks with Hubert Sumlin.

After some snacks we headed to the stage and were lucky to have a window of opportunity to play after some rain showers. Regardless, this crowd could not be dissuaded.

Concert poster inside the dressing room

Reba Russell

photo by Amanda McMinn

Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms behind the Hammond B-3

photo by Amanda McMinn

Josh Roberts gently bends while applying plectrum action

photo by Amanda McMinn

Doug McMinn's ferocious playing actually ignites the drums

photo by Amanda McMinn

Wayne Russell in Foster Grants, Josh Roberts in ecstatic tone creation

Reba Russel Band closes out their set

Josh Roberts, slight heat exhaustion but plowing on con mucho gusto!

photo by Amanda McMinn

selling CD's after the show

Thanks to everyone who bought our music, we sincerely appreciate it.

Davenport truly supports the Blues. What a great town!

author rehydrates and takes a fistful of cardiac medication after the big show
photo by Amanda McMinn

After collapsing for a few minutes to dissipate the heat of the stage, I regrouped and wandered around backstage to see some old friends and take a few pictures for the American Blues News.

hanging with Tommy Castro by his tour bus before he goes on stage

Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms and Bob Corritore behind stage after the performance
Both agree that the 1958 Fender Bassman was the zenith of American musical technology.

I had a wonderful opportunity to talk for a while with my friend, Bob Corritore, harmonica player most excellent and a highly informed intellectual who knows music as well as anybody living. Bob often contributes to the American Blues News and also produces a superb newsletter featuring all things musical with a particular emphasis on the blues. Bob runs the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, plays with Dave Riley and has jammed my band in Memphis. Listen to Bob hold out this long note in the video below! Cooool Bob!

The Legendary Rythm and Blues Cruise Revue takes the stage.

Tommy Castro
photo by Amanda McMinn

Tommy uses rocket power to propel himself across the stage
photo by Amanda McMinn

Tommy's bassist, who upon seeing our band, said, "Who are these people?"
I forget his name but he played some pretty good bass.

the very talented Debbie Davies
photo by Amanda McMinn

Before heading to the stage to hear a few more tunes I ran into Magic Dick who asked if we had any water in our dressing room. I said hello, reminded him of the last time we met when we opened for J. Geils at B.B. King's in Memphis and took him to our stash of Purell. He has always been one of my favorite harp players and he played some cool stuff on stage with Tommy as the sun sank slowly in the west.

Magic Dick and Tommy Castro
photo by Amanda McMinn

Tommy Castro
photo by Amanda McMinn

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society honored my friend Hubert Sumlin with the RiverRoad Lifetime Achievement Award and he played this day with the Nighthawks

After watching some of the other acts it was time for the band to head back toward the Lodge. Before we could leave the grounds the road ahead was blocked for a fireworks display...God bless America!

photo by Doug McMinn

Sitting beside the Mississippi River we watch as fireworks are ignited just a few feet in front of us. Doug took the opportunity to snap a few shots for your enjoyment.

This would be the proverbial rockets' red glare.
photos above by Doug McMinn

My accomplices Amanda and Doug McMinn and I prepare for an assault on pasta at Old Chicago. Thank God they were open this late on the 4th of July. Photo by Doug McMinn.

After we arrived back at the Lodge we ambled down to the basement where a jam session was taking place. At the time I got there there were 4 guitars on stage so I sensibly retreated to the bar to avoid being overwhelmed by guitar frequencies. We got to hang out with old friends, in particular, the greatest showman to come out of West Virginia since Jessco White the Dancin' Outlaw, Mark Stutso. Mark, although not too keen on Mountain clog dancing, is a great drummer and singer and a beloved old friend. Mark is now traveling with the Nighthawks after playing many years with my old buddy Jimmy Thackery and his band, the Drivers. Mark states that among the high points in his life was jamming with our editor Monica Yasher at a jam in Pittsburgh. Mark is a rare talent, a fine drummer and singer and an old school professional touring musicianer.

The bear behind the bar at the Lodge

photo by Wayne Russell

old friend Mark Stutso of the Nighthawks and the author

Josh Roberts is called to get up early and exhibits his unfriendly side

(photo by Wayne Russell)

Driving south through St. Louis.

After three days of driving and outdoor gigs, we set course south for Memphis and the comfort of home. We had a blast in Davenport and we'd like to thank everyone for the warm reception. I hope they will allow us to come back and play for them again very soon. It's a beautiful place full of great people and their festival is highly recommended...quality entertainment virtually on the banks of the Mississippi river.

This week I travel to Nashville with Doug and Amanda McMinn on a tour bus hunting expedition and then south to gig at Atlanta's Blind Willie's and then Tallahassee's Bradford Blues Club. Please join me next Monday for a report on the trip.

RCT

©Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms, 2010
unless otherwise noted, pictures and text © Robert "Nighthawk' Tooms
© Wayne Russell, 2010
© Amanda Mcminn, 2010
©Doug McMinn, 2010