The Pittsburgh Blues Festival interview with Ron "Moondog" Esser by Maureen Elizabeth

“Mealtime at the City Shelter” by Bruer Tidman www.bruertidman.com

Authenticity. That’s why we like our blues. The blues are genuine and from the heart. My interview with Ron “Moondog” Esser (owner and operator of Moondog‘s and the Starlite Lounge in Pittsburgh, PA) revealed to me an authenticity that I had not expected. Moondog has a rep. He is established as a earnest supporter and promoter of the blues in western PA. His club attracts national acts from the New Rider’s of the Purple Sage and Savoy Brown to Devon Allman. The painted walls inside his club boast photos and autographs of blues legends that have journeyed to his nightclub in anticipation of a welcoming audience. His rep includes an award for “Blues Club of the Year” and even more recently his restaurant, the “Starlite Lounge,” was featured on the Food Network. But most importantly - to him- is his association with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and their annual “Pittsburgh Blues Festival.” This festival, begun in 1994, has one goal - to raise money and collect non-perishables to help provide food to those who are hungry. And they work hard to meet this goal. Every year they provide roughly 21 million pounds of food to families. 21 million pounds. I spoke with Moondog a few days before the festival line up was announced (and promised not to “leak” any information prior to the official announcement…).

How did your association with the Pittsburgh Food Bank come about?

About 16 years ago my friend Phil Harris called me and asked me if I wanted to be on the committee to help the food bank with a blues festival and I said if it helps feed hungry people I’d be glad to be a part if it. We raised $7,000 the first year when the festival was held at the Riverplex and every year it got better. We have changed venues 4 times and we are now at Hartwood Acres - we’ll never leave Hartwood, it’s a great venue. Eventually we decided to make Friday a “Free Friday” by asking donations of a bag of canned goods. We have collected tons, tons of food - something like 19 tons last year. We do “Free Friday” to help promote the festival - if you come on Friday with a donation and see what good shows are offered, maybe you’ll come back for Saturday and Sunday.

Do you have a goal?

I just want to do better than the year before - that’s the goal.

Do you find people becoming more generous because of our economic situation?

I think that even though people don’t have money now, they kind of realize how hard it is for many families and they are even more generous. Pittsburgh is a good town. Pittsburgh is a blue collar town and our people are very giving. And they know that if you can’t eat you can’t live - period. There are horror stories we hear about families being unable to feed their kids.

How do you choose the bands for the festival?

I stay up for hours and do web searches plus utilize my relationships with the agents. Then I see if we have enough money to make it work. This year was pretty easy. Two years ago everyone went to Europe to tour because of the economy - that was tough. We try to be as different as we can. This year we have Eric Burdon and the Animals - we have tried to get him for a few years. Our headliners this year are the strongest we’ve had yet.

Last year we interviewed Tinsley Ellis and he had nothing but words of respect for you for how hard you work to keep the blues alive and for your dedication. Where did your interest in the blues begin?

I always liked music since I was a little kid. Blues players, in my opinion, are the best players there are. Blues players are so much more authentic, more from the heart. I always liked the blues guys - they’re all cool, they’re funny and have the best stories. It’s a life style and they play it because they love it. Many play it because their parents did, it’s a way of life. It comes from a different place.

Tell me about working with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank…

The people at the food bank are so dedicated to what they do it’s amazing, I love them all. There is a reason why they work there - they work there because they really care. They are all very talented and could work other places and make more money but they are all on a mission and care about what they do. It comes from their heart.

Obviously you come from that same space…

My dad was a public servant. He was the mayor, fire chief, and he told me you have to help other people who are less fortunate. A lot of people ask me about certain things in my life - we won the Blues Club of the Year award and we were featured on the Food Network - but by far what is my biggest accomplishment in my life - besides my wife and son, my family- would be the food bank. The first two years we raised over $10,000. Last year we raised $200,000. Everybody in the area gets behind it, our great sponsors, and every year more people, more businesses become involved. We have Mike Lang who, every year, is there for us. WDVE is great, the media is great, they do everything they can to help promote this event. And I would love to see more sports figures and community officials involved.

Is there anything else that folks should know about the Pittsburgh Blues Festival ?

For what it costs to get in, and the amount of entertainment you get, the price is ridiculously low - every penny goes to the food bank - we don’t get paid. We have a budget, we pay the bands, we pay the sound company. If I bring a can a food in and say “here” - that can of food goes to people who need food. And it’s fun! Come and have fun! It’s really important to the community. For what it cost and what it does to help people it is hands down the best thing you could do.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

We are all just one step, one heartbeat, one plant closing from struggling to put food on the table. The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank has been in operation since 1980. It is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization that provides numerous services to those in need in the greater Pittsburgh area. By bringing one grocery bag of non-perishable food on Friday night July 23 you can enjoy the music of Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, The Iguanas, and Miss Freddy and Blue Faze. For a $40 two day pass (July 24 & 25) you can see Eric Burden and the Animals, Sue Foley and Peter Karp, Nick Curran and the Lowlifes and the Pittsburgh Blues All-Stars (July 24). On Sunday you will see Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Larry McCray Band, Tinsley Elis and many more - all the while knowing that the cost of your ticket will benefit your neighbors in Pittsburgh.

For more information on the Pittsburgh Blues Festival go to: www.pghblues.com. Or call the Blues Hotline @ (412) 460-BLUE

For more information about the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the many programs they sponsor (or if you need help) go to: www.pittsburghfoodbank.org.

For information about Moondog’s and the Starlite Lounge go to: www.moondogs.us.

Interview with Shawn Kellerman by Monica Yasher

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Olympics in Canada are still going on, and I would like to continue my writing in tribute of our US neighbor, Canada. Last week you read about Harry Manx, as I focused on an acoustic blues artist. This week we will meet up with Shawn Kellerman, who is a rocking electric blues artist. Though the Olympics will be over, I owe it to Sue Foley to continue with the Canadian coverage offering the female blues perspective on March 3. But, for now, let’s concentrate on Shawn.

Shawn Kellerman will be playing at Moondogs in Pittsburgh on Friday, February 26, 2010, at 9:00 pm with his band that includes Joseph Veloz and Andrew “Blaze” Thomas. The first time that I met Shawn was at the Pittsburgh Blues Festival. Shawn is a powerhouse to watch and gives a fan their money‘s worth. He knows how to work the stage and play that guitar!

I tried to speak with Shawn several times. On one occurrence he was flying back from Russia and the plane had to do an emergency landing. I was glad that Shawn remained safe. I am also glad to have had the opportunity to speak with him on his CD, his guitar, and some of the events that got him where he is today. Let’s see what Shawn had to tell us.

Monica: Hello Shawn?

Shawn: Yes?

M: This is Monica how are you?

S: Good, thanks.

M: I wanted to talk to you about your CD, “Blues Without a Home“. When did that come out?

S: April 2009.

M: How did that title come about?

S: Just kind of putting words together. It was kind of…to be honest…it was from my bass player, Joseph Veloz. It was kind of an interesting play on words in a way. I googled it to see if we were being original, and nobody else put that together and I thought it was kind of smart. Secondly, it was kind of personal to my life, as I had split up with my wife and things were changing in my life. In one way it was kind of funny and in one way it wasn’t.

M: It intrigued me. You travel, for instance to Russia, and I was thinking you are always with the blues without a home. That’s what I thought you would share and there you have so much more to it.

S: That was number three on the list. The traveling and more traveling so much going everywhere. It was kind of that too. But, it was many different things. And the funny thing about it, through all of these interviews, you are the actual first person…I have been kind of wondering in interviews if I would ever get asked…and, you are the first person who ever actually asked me.

M: As a songwriter, I could see all the play on words. I guess you have to love wordsmithing to pick up on it. I saw a lot of meanings in that. I thought that was really cool! Congratulations on your cool idea.

S: Thank you.

M: What is your latest effort coming out?

S: We have an idea of a CD already recorded. It’s not the final recording. The whole idea is kind of written. It’s so close. I may release something in the year. My next focus was really a DVD, a live performance. I thought with the touring, I was thinking of doing something a little different. I thought a DVD. We’ll see by the end of the year ,there will be a new product, a DVD or CD. I’m also doing some web casting, and it seems that I’m doing one every month now.

M: How does that work?

S: There’s this bar I play in called, Rascals, in Illinois. There’s a cam setup and he tapes everything. I have to more fully understand it. I have done others. We did a Christmas show back here in Canada as a web cast.

M: I see there is more of that. I’m not understanding what that does for someone. You can’t sell your CD’s to the audience. So, what does that do for an artist? I’m just curious on the new technology and what it does for an artist.

S: We had 600 people on line watching it. I’m not sure what it does. It’s fun. But, as you said, I’m not sure what it does.

M: Let’s move to your guitar work. I read the following, “You are an inner circle of musicians that define modern blues”. So, what is the definition of modern blues to you?

S: Modern Blues…trying to write a song that has strong blues roots. Everybody has their definition of pushing the envelope of how far out can you go.

My mentor was a guy named Mel Brown who played blues, jazz, country. I’m sure several people looked at him as an old blues, a black blues guy. But, he wasn’t. He did what was called for. Maybe I have a weird concept of what modern blues might be, because he was the type of guy that…and I learned from that…he mixed a little bit of everything and that is what I am doing. I like all the blues. I like the swing blues. I like soul blues. I have done hip hop in 2007. I played a whole Albert King guitar solo hip hop. It had a hip hop groove. I’m just trying to have fun with it, trying to be a little bit new, and trying to put my own little edge. I don’t think I’m in no way shape or form a huge innovator. I’m trying to put my mark on trying to push the envelope a little bit, to go to make it a little bit newer.

M: It looks like you played with Mel Brown, Deborah Coleman and Bobby Rush. These people all mentored you, but which one influenced you the most?

S: Mel Brown. He moved to Ontario when I was 18, so I was highly influential. He was the first guy and he was a guitar player. His sense of melody and when he played the guitar, it was like conversing. It was like he was using words. But it was just his guitar. And to me that really touches my heart. It was probably the biggest influence.

Bobby was an influence for a certain feel that he had in his band that was really intriguing to me. Secondly, his ability as an entertainer. The way he presents it to people. The way he throws it out there. When I joined his band, I was a little kid. I was touring a few years, but I was still a shy guitar player. It was basically…it’s your time…and when he points to you on the stage, you better shine.

That was told to me first by Otis Clay. I was like 22. He told me that, “You’re getting to be a great guitar player, but you need more discipline. You need to join that band that is going to take you and make you shine and go out there”. Everything needed to be shined up a little more and polished. That took a couple of years. I took his advice and went on the road. I joined Bobby’s band and thought this is how you come out performing a festival. I learned a lot that way from Bobby.

M: I met up with Bobby at the Heritage Blues Festival. He really has showmanship down. Very impressive.

S: Oh Yeah. A great person too.

M: I think it was his guitarist that wasn’t feeling well, and he was deeply concerned about his fellow band member. He was like a Dad with his kid. He still did the interview though. I told him that we could do it over the phone at a later date. That goes to show you what a great blues artist he is that he felt he had to do it. What a great guy.

S: Yeah. He always tried to make something happen. Sometimes someone would call and conditions may not be the best. But Bobby would always make it happen. He’d always..things would be tight…things would be rough…not everything was perfect….but it would always come off. There would always be a show. Someway or another it would always come off.

M: Let’s talk about the touring. I was watching the movie “Ray” and the Chitlin’ Circuit was mentioned in that movie, and I didn’t know what it was. Whenever I talked to Bobby he was the first person I talked to that mentioned it. Obviously you toured that with him right?

S: Right.

M: You hear the Chitlin circuit. Why is it so special? What is that experience like? Why does everyone want to do it? I’m still curious. What can you tell me about it?

S: Well. The Chitlin circuit is basically black run clubs all across the country. You know, I would have to say, that 99 percent of the time it’s an all black club. So, that’s the nickname it gave us. Bobby would play there the majority of the time there. So, when I joined the band, people would tell me that you better watch it. There was not a big fear of a white man from Canada coming down to play black clubs. It was never ever once an issue. I was part of the band and if Bobby hired me I must be doing something right. It was great and I got to see all the great bands that I love like Denise LaSalle, Little Milton, Bobby Blue Band. We did shows with them. Johnny Taylor. It was great. I might not see them anywhere else. So it was a great experience. I learned a LOT from some of the greatest performers today. I got to see some amazing shows when I did that with Bobby.

M: You have a lot of kudos out there. For instance, you performed at the 80th birthday celebration for BB King. What do you think your best moment is on a stage. What do you hold dear through your whole career?

S: I’d have to say my best moment was when I was playing with Bobby Rush. We were playing in Arkansas and I was playing with him for a year and it was just after Christmas. We were playing in a club. I felt like I got it. It was like I felt all of a sudden that I knew how to play guitar. Or, I knew that I finally got this thing that I came to Mississippi to learn.So I asked the guys how they could deal with me for the last year because now I felt that I got it. From there, it was just trying to hone my craft. It seemed like I just stepped over a huge hurdle. That was a long time ago. Maybe ten years ago now. Yeah. That’s probably the most memorable. There’s lots of great memories. I traveled the world to Moscow. For a personal feeling that is probably the biggest.

M: How many years were you at it before you encountered that feeling? For those would be artists? How long did it take?

S: I was about 25 or 26. I was probably playing for ten years. I mean who knows. I just feel that I play a lot differently now and today I feel that I reached a whole different kind of hurdle. The other day I was just thinking, “Wow”. And it wasn’t as quite an impact as the Bobby Rush night. But I feel like at 37, I’m really coming into my own as what I do as a guitar player and performer. I never thought and it’s kind of weird. I was so into Albert King and Albert Collins and Mel Brown. It’s kind of like I’m evolving almost into a more Shendrixy kind of thing and it’s like I never would have thought that EVER. We are kind of experimenting. We are doing dirty delta blues or we are doing even some rocky blues. I don’t want to say that we are turning into this power trio. But we’re just really experimenting with different things and we’re not trying to keep it into one little category.

M: You’re having fun.

S: That’s what I like the experimentation and trying new things.

M: I can see that when you’re on stage that you are very high energy. How do you pace yourself?

S: It’s just…someone sent me an email once and they said, you know, I’m a long distance runner and when I watch you play, I don’t picture you as this frantic energy. I can tell that you are in shape, and you know how to deliver it for 75 or 90 minutes at a festival. That’s the only guy that ever said that I have control of the energy. He said he really liked it. I do go to the gym and all that and everything is about a healthy energy to me. When I do the most high energy festival show, I feel the best after that. I feel physically the best. People say you must be worn out. I’m not. I feel more energy from it.

M: The energy with being a vocalist, you have to pace yourself. You can’t be winded. You have to figure that out. You can’t be jumping up and down and singing a whole bunch of notes. That has to be….

S: Yeah. Once in a while the coffee helps, but for the most part it is good health and keeping it together. As a full body physical experience, you have to keep it together. If you look at Luther Allison, before he passed away, he was a healthy guy and he was 57. I looked at him and said wow! This guy was 30 years older than me and his energy level was off the charts. I watched blues of Freddie King when he was in his 40’s and 50’s. So there’s no excuse for me not to go up there and perform. There’s just no excuse. Just give it my all. Once I was categorized as this guy that makes faces as Jonny Lang and I said, you know, when I was making my first face, Jonny Lang was 4 years old. I’m not copying Jonny Lang by any means. You see I have pictures of me when I was 15 years old, and I was making the stupidest faces. If you do the math, Jonny was four (LOL)!

M: At 15 did you have the backing of your family?

S: I started in the family band. My step mother sang and my father played piano. We had a drummer and bass player and played some clubs. I had the bug of being on stage after about 8 months. I was playing rhythm at first. I was so intrigued by all these lead players that registered something. Quickly I became the guitar player and I started getting calls and I just started playing in other bands. There was a blues club locally and they would let me in underage and I would watch the greatest bands from Chicago and Mississippi. It was Robert Cray before he was Robert Cray. The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Otis Clay. Lonnie Brooks. The list is way to long.

M: What’s next for you? Touring?

S: It’s festivals in the summer and we are still touring on this CD. It’s just getting more recognition. I’m still a minnow. I’m the new dog right now. It’s getting more people to recognize who we are. Keep plowing through.

M: That’s what it takes, perseverance.

S: Even last year, it was great for Ron…I appreciate him…recommending me for the festival and playing in front of Curtis Salgado and Los Lobos. Not everyone would do that, so I appreciate that.

M: Curtis Salgado came back into Pittsburgh in November. He has an intriguing life. I’ve met so many cool people by doing this. Thanks Shawn for being one of them.

S: Your welcome.

Barely a few hours after the death of blues legend Mel Brown, March 20, 2009, grief-stricken guitarist Shawn Kellerman pays wordless tribute to his musical mentor with a heart-wrenching rendition ...

Shawn, to use your own words. "It was like he was using words. But it was just his guitar. And to me that really touches my heart."



If you enjoyed reading this electric guitarist, you may enjoy reading G.E. Smith.

Copyright © 2010 Copyright Monica L. Yasher. All Rights Reserved.
Photograph Copyright © 2010 Maureen Ceidro. All Rights Reserved.