Spellbound, by The Virginiabluesman

(Washington DC) I went to one of the most unlikely places in Ashburn, Virginia to see a local blues/rock band put on a show. Local residents are well aware of the restaurant called Clyde's. I had heard about this venue, but had never been there before. It was a night of pleasant surprises.

I showed up fashionably late since I am the only human being left on the planet without a GPS system. It's not an easy place to find without a GPS ... the road that the restaurant is on divides several times before you get to your destination. Or DOES it? Well, I finally arrived at Clyde's, ordered a reasonably priced beer considering the location and reputation of Clyde's.

I took a walk around the huge reataurant looking for the band stage. It wasn't in the dining area ... I walked outside ... nope, not outside. I walked into the main bar area (they have a few bars), still looking for the band stage, having absolutely no luck at all. Oh well, I had a cold beer, and I decided I would just follow the sounds of the blues when the band started. I asked one of the patrons if he knew where the band would be playing, and he said, "over there". There was no bandstage "over there", but still, this was where the band was going to play

A few minutes went by and the lead vocalist of the band, Julie Fanning approached me and introduced herself to me. Soooooo , there really IS a band playing tonight! She was very pleasant to chat with, and very nervous. She told me she was having throat problems that night, but she would do her best to make sure the show goes on. I liked her attitude.

The band began their frst set, and the large crowd showed their appreciation for the band after every tune. Julie didn't show any signs of having a strained voice, or at least I couldn't sense it. The crowd was friendly, the food and drinks were good and the band rocked the house. There wasn't a dance floor, but people made thier own dance floor whereever they could. I must ay that the crowd was very resposive to the bands music, and showed their appreciation by dancing and applauding after every tune.

The band is a cover band comprised mostly of Classic Rock and Blues. It was great hearing these songs again, and it was obvious that the crowd felt the same. I was pleasantly surprised at the song selections. There were the typical top 40 songs as well as many "Deep Cuts" from the 60's and 70's. The music was well played and a good time was had by all.

Julie Fanning, vocalist of Spellbound

I DO plan on seeing this band again at the same restaurant, only this time they will be playing outdoors in the beautiful large patio which is surrounded by ... more bars. The band seemed to genuinely enjoy themselves, and their entusiasm for their music, especially Julie's, rubbed off on the mixed age crowd.

Spellbound is an enjoyable band, with a great list of songs to entertain you. I can see that Julie Fanning particularly likes to sing the blues. I went to this show to listen to some blues, got a good mix of Classic Rock and blues and walked away (sober) with a smile on my face.

By all means, check this band out if they play in a venue close by. For more info on this band, go to http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=1234505336 (Julie Fannings facebook page).

Pictures of  the entire band were not available at posting time ...

You can reach me at virginiabluesman@gmail.com

Thanks,
Virginiabluesman (Geraldo)

Bad Case Of The Blues, By The Virginiabluesman

Bad Case Of The Blues CD

(Washington DC) Let me start this article by naming some favorite blues bands/srtists from the past ... Savoy Brown, Cream, Ten Years After ... not a bad start if I may say so myself. I have several CD's by these artists. Their music is timeless. I may have gotten away from this style music for awhile, but it's coming back to me now.

Tony Fazio (Photo by Virginiabluesman)

A local artist in the DC area named Tony Fazio sent me a CD and asked if we would consider reviewing it here. I told him I would give it a fair chance and listened to it as soon as it came in the mail. My first impression was that it was a good local artist CD. I wasn't totally convinced that we would be able to review it here, but I gave it another chance. My car stereo just didn't have the sound performance I needed to make a fair evaluation of the music. I put it in my stereo, put the headphones on, and started to hear bits of Savoy Brown here and there ... bits of Cream (Eric Clapton) ...Ten Years After (Alvin Lee).

Richard James Burgess, drums

The name of the band is Electrofied, and the name of the CD is Bad Case Of The Blues. The band consists of Tony Fazio on guitar, Scott Taylor on vocals, Rob Rusteberg, and Richard James Burgess on drums. The CD also features harmonica (harp) from legendary bluesman Charlie Sayles. I grew particularly fond of the second tune on the CD titled "Cadillac", which features great guitar licks from Tony Fazio, and excellent blues vocals from Scott Taylor. The band has a good solid sound, and I have probably heard this CD front to back dozens of times. First of all to give a fair review of the CD, but then because it got a bit addicting to listen to.

I am a huge fan of guitar driven blues which people like Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, BB King and so many other great blues artists made famous in the 60's. This CD treats its listeners to good blues licks in every tune, and the best part of it all is that these are mainly original songs written by Tony and Scott. The CD opens up with A Bad Case Of The Blues, an original song by the band, which lends itself well to the blues singers of the past, and excellent slashing guitar solos from Tony Fazio.

Scott Taylor

Rub Me Down, another original tune form Fazio/Taylor, makes me think of some of the good r&b I used to listen to in my younger days. I can't put my fingers on who exactly it reminds me of, but the song seems to have definite r&b influences to it. The song is hypnotizing, and sounds likes the first time everytime i hear it. It never seems to get old to listen to.

Early In The Morning is another tune that has an early r&b sound to it, but at the same time, a strong blues feel. It opens up with a fierce guitar lick from Tony Fazio and rocks the rest of the way with nice vocals and a more than competent job of drums and bass. I got a slight feel of Bill Black's Combo in this tune the more I listened to it.

This CD is a strong CD from a local band who should be making more of an impact on the DC area music scene very soon. I have only one complaint about the CD. It's beginning to show wear and tear on it from being overplayed, taken in and out of various CD players, and my general lack of taking care of the CD's as they need to be taken care of. This CD will make it onto my ipod, and I would recommend it to anyone who is on the lookout for some good guitar driven blues.

Rating: 4.0 blue stars out of 5 blue stars

For more info on this DC area band, and to hear samples from this CD, go to http://www.tonyfazio.com/

Feel free to Email me with questions or comments at virginiabluesman@gmail.com

All pictures used with permission from the artists
Bob Rusteberg (bass) photo unavailable at posting time

The Legendary Blues Review, by The Virginiabluesman

(Washington DC) Every now and then you get a chance to see something really special. A great blues band, a great blues vocalist, a great guitarist or a great piano/keyboard player. Then there are those special nights when you see them all on one night on one show. This was the case Saturday April 3rd at The State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia.

Tommy Castro and his band, Deanna Bogart, Joe Louis Walker, and Debbie Davies gave the crowd their money's worth and THEN some. Attending a show of this caliber spoils a person. I now expect EVERY band to totally entertain us in this fashion. Of course that's an unfair expectation for all bands that follow this supergroup at The State Theatre, or ANY venue for that matter!

Tommy Castro (Photos by The Virginiabluesman)

                           
The Legendary Blues Review was started by Tommy Castro. Everyone in the band Saturday night has been part of the famous Blues Cruise that is held once a year on a cruise ship. Tommy felt like the shows were so successful that he asked everyone if they would like to try the show on "dry land". They all said yes, and this led to shows across the country.  Everyone in the band seems to genuinely enjoy each others musical skills, and feed off of each others solos, pushing them to another level with their OWN solos.

The show was opened by The Tommy Castro Band which is comprised of sax (Keith Crossan), trumpet (Tom Poole), keyboards (Tony Stead), bass (Scot Sutherland), and drummer ( Ronnie Smith). It's easy to see why Tommy's band was nominated for Band Of The Year in the BMA's. The band was solid, and, as good as the band was, it was hard to take my eyes off Scot Sutherland. His driving bass riffs kept the sound tight, but his style of playing is also very unique. He has a great stage presence, sporting a "beatnick" beard, a sporty hat, and his stance resembled that of a bassist of a hard rock band. Tommy's blazing, slashing guitar riffs were exceptional, and at one time, he left the stage with his cordless guitar and walked through the appreciative crowd jammin' away without losing a step.

Debbie Davies, Scot Sutherland (Photo by Virginiabluesman)

After Tommy's energetic set, he introduced Debbie Davies to the crowd. Debbie was well received by the large crowd, and didn't disappoint her adoring fans. Debbie plays the blues the way they are supposed to be played. Her riffs are pure blues, nothing flashy, just pure blues. Debbie toured with the great Albert Collins, and I think he would have been very proud of her on this night. If you like your blues genuine, pure, and intense, Debbie is as good as it gets.

Debbie Davies (Photos by Virginiabluesman)

I didn't quite notice when it was that Deanna Bogart came on to the stage to start her part of the show. I turned my head towards Debbie, and Deanna was blowing away at her saxophone. Deanna is a great showman, and her seemingly endless energy and obvious love for her music shown through on this night. Possessing a great voice and equally great musical skills, she wowed the crowd. Deanna's highlight of the evening was her performance of "Still the girl in the band". The song has it's hard, driving moments, but the true highlight of the song was when she played a long, mellow keyboard solo. At some points of the song, you could hear a pin drop in the theatre. She also displayed something I didn't realize she had ... a great vocal range. She hit some high notes that would have made Mariah Carey proud. Deanna is a showman of the very highest level, and it's really hard for me to imagine why she isn't a household name across the globe. Not only does she excel at the keyboards and vocals, but she won a BMA for best instrumentalist the last two years for her saxophone skills.

Deanna Bogart (Photos by Virginiabluesman)

Next to come onstage was the great Joe Louis Walker. Joe posseses a great blues voice and mesmerized the crowd with his incredible slide guitar skills. Joe covered so many styles of music during his short set from traditional blues, to old school r&b to rock, and had a little something for everyone. His vocals are strong, perfectly suited to sing the blues. He showed a unique talent of being able to blaze through a hard blues jam one second, and blend it in slowly to some nice slow blues that again builds to a resounding finish that makes your hair on your neck stand up!

Joe Louis Walker (Photos by Virginiabluesman)

The band took a break from the stage, and Tommy and Deanna came to the lobby to talk with the fans and sign CD's. I was able to talk to Deanna and Tommy and they both came across again as genuinely nice people and unspoiled by their success on the stage and recordings. I don't know if the other musicians had an opportuity to talk to their fans during the break, and was quite surprised to see Tommy and Deanna there.

The entire band took the stage at the end of the break, and totally blew the crowd away. The show ended with a tribute to the great Albert Collins, led by the charismatic Debbie Davies. Some of the crowd had left, the "faint of heart", as Tommy Castro put it, but that didn't stop anyone from giving the crowd even more for what they paid for. I had a chance to talk with Deanna and Debbie before the show, and they both credited Tommy's organizational and people skills for putting this show together.

Encore Encore !!! (Photos by Virginiabluesman)

All in all, this was one of the better Blues shows I have attended, and will gladly see them again the next time they come around. It is worth noting that any of these musicians can hold a crowd on their own, and I look forward to seing each of them live with their own band members.

NEXT WEEK : Interviews with Deanna Bogart and Debbie Davies

Virginiabluesman ... virginiabluesman@gmail.com

Joe Krown, by The Virginiabluesman

(Washington DC) I recently had the opportunity to discover the sounds of Joe Krown. Based out of the city of New Orleans, Joe is a New Orleans styled piano and Hammond B-3 player. Joe is backed by Russell Batiste Jr on drums and Walter "Wolfman" Washington on guitar and vocals.

Joe has played keyboards on four of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's CD's , and toured with him from 1992 thru 2005 when the legendary Gatemouth passed away, and has played piano and organ in live shows with one of my personal Blues favorites, Marcia Ball.

Joe Krown

Joe's band is jam packed with talent. Besides the great piano/organ skills of Joe Krown, there is Walter "Wolfman" Washington, a legend in the New Orleans music scene. This man can flat out sing and play the Blues with the best of them, and his searing guitar solos and vocal style is a show in itself. It is no wonder that The Joe Krown Trio is enjoying so much success with this star studded band of musicians.

Great guitar solos/vocals, etc have been cut down by drummers who just dont keep the beat, play too loud , don't have a feel for the music, or simply don't belong with that class of musician. This is NOT a problem in this band however. Russell Batiste Jr is a more than capable drummer, and not only keeps up nicely with Joe and Walter, but actually enhances their musical abilities.

Joe Krown with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown

I have had a chance to view many of Joe Krown's videos on YouTube, and have heard samplings of his music , and feel very comfortable recommending this band to my readers. The band has a live CD out titled, Live At The Maple Leaf, a music performance venue in New Orleans, Louisiana. This CD features the great musical styles of Joe , Russell and Walter  together, and I have found myself listening to the live tunes over and over. I have not had the opportunity to see The Joe Krown Trio live, but this CD will do me good till they get to a blues venue in my area.

For more information about Joe Krown and his band, go to  http://www.joekrown.com/

Final bow with Gatemouth Brown & Gate's Express after Gate's final Jazz Fest performance--4/28/05

Tour Schedule

3/30 New Orleans, LA Dos Jefes (solo) 10PM



4/10 New Orleans, LA Private


4/11 New Orleans, LA French Quarter Festival (trio)


4/23 New Orleans, LA Jazz & Heritage Festival (w/Walter Wolfman Washington & Russell Batiste)


4/24 New Orleans, LA Twelve Bar (w/B. Anderson & M. Barras) 9:30 to 10:45PM


4/25 New Orleans, LA Ralph's on the Park (solo) 11:30AM to 2:30PM


4/25 New Orleans, LA Maple Leaf (w/Walter Wolfman Washington & Russell Batiste) 10:00PM to 12AM


4/26 New Orleans, LA House of Blues--Piano Night (solo)


4/27 New Orleans, LA Private 6-8PM


4/28 New Orleans, LA Snug Harbor (solo w/Marcia Ball & Tom McDermott)


4/30 New Orleans, LA DBA (w/Walter Wolfman Washington & Russell Batiste) 9PM to 11PM


5/2 New Orleans, LA Maple Leaf (w/Walter Wolfman Washington & Russell Batiste) 10:00PM to 12AM


5/7 Alexandria, LA Spirit's (w/Walter Wolfman Washington & Russell Batiste)


5/21 Pensacola, FL Vinyl (w/Walter Wolfman Washington & Russell Batiste)


5/22 New Orleans, LA Private


6/5 New Orleans, LA Private


6/19 Rochester, NY Rochester Int'l Jazz Fest (w/Walter Wolfman Washington & Russell Batiste)


7/10 New Orleans, LA Private 7:30--10:30PM


7/24 Sellersville, PA Sellersville Theater (w/Walter Wolfman Washington & Russell Batiste)


7/25 Lake Harmony,NY Poconos Blues Fest (w/Walter Wolfman Washington & Russell Batiste)


10/17 New Orleans, LA Crescent City Blues Fest (w/Walter Wolfman Washington & Russell Batiste)


Weekly Performances:


Sunday Brunch at: Ralph's on the Park (solo piano) 11:30AM--2:30PM


Every Sunday at: Maple Leaf Bar (w/Walter Washington & Russell Batiste)10PM Free Crawfish w/Admission


Every Friday at: Le Bon Temps Roule (solo) 7--9:30PM Free Oysters Free Admission

Please feel free to EMail me at virginiabluesman@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments about this article.
All pictures in this article were used with the permission of the artist ...
Keep On Rockin' In The Free World!!!

Places To Go, Shows To See ... by The Virginiabluesman

ANA Popovic Photo by The Virginibluesman

(Washington DC) This spot is generally taken up by interviews of some of the best blues artists on the planet, but I have had so many requests for venue/show information that I decided to fill this spot with some of the best shows in the D.C. area. This isn't an absolutely complete show schedule, but it will give everybody a good idea of what this area has to offer. I try to cover the local musicians as well as the touring musicians. Please keep in mind that, while I know that there are bigger name shows coming to the DC area, this site isn't just about BIG names. If you only go to shows for the big names, then you are missing out on sooooooo much good music out there! Check out just a few of the MANY shows in our area.


March 19 Friday ... The Average White Band ... The Birchmere, Alexandria Virginia ...  


Time: 7:30 PM
Cost: $35.00
http://www.birchmere.com/calendar/calendar_list.cfm
---------------------------------------------------------------
March 20 Saturday ... The Average White Band ... The Birchmere, Alexandria, Virginia ...


Time: 7:30 PM
Cost: $35.00
http://www.birchmere.com/calendar/calendar_list.cfm
---------------------------------------------------------------
March 20 Saturday... Stacy Brooks Band (GREAT local band) ... Calvert County Fairgrounds ...  Prince Frederick, Maryland
6-9 PM
---------------------------------------------------------------
March 21& 28 Sunday ... Jazz Jam ... Bangkok Blues, Falls Church, Virginia

Wolfs Blues Jam w/Hot Rods and Old Gas and Hot Roddess Lisa Lim
6:00-11:00
http://www.bangkokblues.com/calendar/musicMarch10.htm
------------------------------------------------------------
March 26 Friday ... Tower Of Power ... State Theatre, Falls Church, Virginia ... Doors 6 pm Showtime 8 pm

Tickets $38
18 and up to enter. VALID ID required.
---------------------------------------------------------------
March 25 thru 28 ... (Thurs-Sun) ... Stanley Jordan ... Blues Alley, Washington DC

(Solo Guitar)
$25 **Two shows: 8PM & 10PM
http://www.bluesalley.com/calendar.cfm
---------------------------------------------------------------
April 3 Saturday ... THE LEGENDARY RHYTHM AND BLUES REVUE featuring Tommy Castro Band, Deanna Bogart, Joe Louis Walker and Debbie Davies ... The State Theatre, Falls Church, Virginia ... Doors: 7:00 PM

Showtime: 9:00 PM
Tickets: $25
http://www.thestatetheatre.com/events/e1143.xml?
---------------------------------------------------------------
April 9 Friday ... Spellbound ... Clyde's, Sterling, Virginia (Great local band)

Time:9:00PM Friday, April 9th
Location: Clyde's Willow Creek Farm
---------------------------------------------------------------
April 13 Tuesday ... Todd Rundgren's Johnson ... The Birchmere, Alexandria, Virginia

featuring Todd Rundgren, Kasim Sulton, Prairie Prince, Jesse Gress
Time: 7:30 PM
Cost: $39.50
---------------------------------------------------------------
April 15 & 16 (Thurs and Fri) ... Livingston Taylor (James' brother) ... WolfTrap, Vienna, Virginia ...8 pm at The Barns
Ticket Price: $22
---------------------------------------------------------------
Listed below are some of the top music venues in the DC area in no particular order :


***  Verizon Center
        601 F Street, NW. Washington, DC


***  DAR Constitution Hall
        1776 D St. NW. Washington, DC



*** Patriot Center
       George Mason University, 4500 Patriot Circle. Fairfax, Va.


*** Wolf Trap National Park
       1624 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia


*** Music Center at Strathmore
       5301 Tuckerman Lane. North Bethesda, Maryland



*** Nissan Pavilion
       7800 Cellar Door Drive. Bristow, Virginia

*** Carter Barron Amphitheater
       Rock Creek Park. 16th & Colorado Ave. NW.

       Washington, DC


*** 930 Club
       815 V St, NW. Washington, DC



*** Birchmere Music Hall
       3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Virginia



*** Blues Alley
       1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington DC

       ---------------------------------------------------

If you have any shows or venues you would like me to include in a future article, please Email them to me at virginiabluesman@gmail.com

Next week : A review AND interview of the artists in this great show : THE LEGENDARY RHYTHM AND BLUES REVUE featuring Tommy Castro Band, Deanna Bogart, Joe Louis Walker and Debbie Davies
 

Memphis Gold, By The Virginiabluesman

(Washington DC) The talent pool in the DC area is so strong these days, and nobody proves that notion better than Chester "Memphis Gold" Chandler. Memphis gave the fans a thrill when he took the stage alongside harmonica great Jay Summerour to jam with The Stacy Brooks Band. Stacy's Band was a show in itself, but Memphis and Jay elevated the show to a totally different level.

I came early to the show to check out the venue (Bangkok Blues) in Falls Church Virginia, and saw Memphis mixing with the crowd as if he was a regular fan of this venue. I had no idea who he was, but it was obvious that he was a well liked "regular" of Bangkok Blues. It wasn't till a half hour or so later that I realized this was Memphis Gold. Stacy had told me that he would be joining her onstage, and I HAD googled him before the show but still failed to recognize him.

Photo by Glenn's Photography

I didn't fail to recognize his vocal/guitar skills though. It wasn't more than a few seconds into his first jam that I knew this was going to be a special evening. Joined on stage with Jay Summerour, the two musicians clicked well with Stacy's band, and played on as if they were regular members of the band. The music for the rest of the evening was pure blues... blues the way it's supposed to be played: with feeling, heart, soul and passion. 

A few songs into the jam session, the band broke into a great version of The Thrill Is Gone, a blues standard. Some songs are so great, they are better left alone for the original artists to play. When the first few notes from the neck of "Louise Fanniemae Brown" hit the amps though, it was obvious that Memphis could handle a tune of this caliber. Jay Summerour played the all important harmonica parts that make The Thrill such a classic blues tune. I'm not sure I have heard a better live version of this song, and the musicianship displayed by the entire band was something special.

Photo by Glenn's Photography

I had the opportunity to interview Memphis a few days after the show. It was a short , but very informative interview which he had to cut short to practice with his band. Mr. Chandler said that he was given a Gibson Custom ES-335 which he named "Louise Fanniemae Brown." The award was presented by Bill Wax, Program Director and show host of Sirius XM’s B.B. King’s Bluesville, on behalf of Gibson. He is obviously very proud of this guitar and had it personally signed by BB King himself. He played this guitar proudly during the jam session on March 5th, 2010.

Memphis shared that he has been on major blues magazines such as Jefferson Magazine Issue #147 January 2006, the worlds oldest blues magazine; Blues and Rhythm Magazine Issue #233 October 2008; Living Blues Magazine Issue #199 February/March 2009, America's oldest Blues magazine, and will soon be on the cover Block Magazine which is published in the Netherlands. Memphis Gold is not only one of the top musicians in the Capital City, but is also a world class entertainer.

Make no mistake about it. Memphis Gold is a major force in the Blues world today. If it's authentic, fiery, blazing blues you want, Memphis is the man. He has the guitar skills that will remind you of BB King, and possesses a gritty, powerful, soulful voice that is necessary to belt out a blues song properly. Serves Me Right To Suffer, a blues standard of epic proportions, has never sounded any better than on his CD titled Prodigal Son.

Cover of Block magazine

In 2008, Memphis suffered a life threatening 35 foot fall from a  tree, breaking his back in 3 places. Doctors said that there was very little chance of him ever walking again. Memphis continued plugging away, and continued to write songs for his 2009 CD release titled Gator Gon’Bitechu! He has since regained his walking abilities, and has continued to tour relentlessly across the world. Not only do you have to have respect for a man who can play the blues the way he does, but the ultimate respect a person can be given is to respect the man that he is. Memphis is both a great musician and one helluva' man.

All photos were used with the permission of the artist and photographer ...

You can get more info on Memphis Gold at http://www.memphisgoldprod.net/fr_index.cfm

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/MemphisGold

Check out a video of the show at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBhn4TVGdDw


Feel free to Email me if you need more info on Memphis Gold, or if you have any questions/comments about this web site.
virginiabluesman@gmail.com

Laura Chavez Interview, By Virginiabluesman

(Washington DC) A few weeks ago I interviewed Bob Margolin for this site, and he mentioned Laura Chavez as being one of the top young guitarists. Having the respect I DO have for Bob and his musicianship, I went straight to google Laura's name. This search led me to Candye Kane. Laura is now the lead guitarist for Candye's band, and she just makes a good thing better.

I've read the reviews: The next SRV, best female guitarist, and many more. I asked Laura how she felt about these comments, and  she isn't as fond of them as the people that wrote them apparentely are. She doesn't want to be compared to SRV or anyone else for that matter. Personally, I'm a bit worn out with female musicians/vocalists etc being compared to other females of their class. Laura would like to just be appreciated for who she is, and I was very pleased to see that she is very humble about her abilities.

Candye Kane and Laura Chavez

Laura's influences early in her career spanned from The Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin to Eric Clapton. She says she became more interested in the Blues as she got into high school, and listed some of her Blues influences as BB King, Hubert Sumlin , Jimmy Vaughan, TBone Walker, Hubert Sumlin and the great Freddie King.

One of Laura's first professional gigs was with The Lara Price band in San Jose, California. She started playing in Lara's band at the age of 18, and stayed with the band for approximately 8 years. She played gigs with The Lara Price Band, and played on three CD's. She expressed to me that she enjoyed playing in Lara's band, and stayed with the band until she left to play in Candye Kane's band.

Laura Chavez

Laura possesses a strong talent for the Blues. There isn't much she can't do on the guitar, and she quickly made an impression on many people in the Blues world, including one of the better Blues guitarists in the world today, Sue Foley. Candye was in the market for a hot new guitarist, and Sue Foley recommended Laura to Candye, and she hired her without seeing her or hearing her. A recommendation from a guitarist of Sue Foley's class made an impression on Candye, and the quality of Candye's band was elevated to a new level with the addition of Laura.

Superhero, Candye Kane's new CD, has Laura's influence all over it. Guitar virtuoso Laura Chavez co-wrote 6 songs with Candye and she also co-produced the CD which is getting great reviews all across the globe. Pick this CD up and give it several listens. Laura is showcased on this CD as well as Candye's amazing voice, and her stellar band. Do I hear a touch of Duane Eddy on the title track? I'm not sure if that sound was intentional or not, as Laura wasn't even born when Duane was riding high on the charts with his amazing style of play, but you gotta like it!

Laura Chavez and Candye Kane

Laura Chavez is going to be showing off her blazing guitar style with Candye Kane on tour this year. Watching her play, you get the feeling that you are seeing something very special early in her career. I am looking forward to following Laura's career, and watching a young budding guitar player grow with her craft. Laura is here to stay, and soon will become a household name, not only in the Blues world, but in the "main stream" of music as well.

All pictures are used with the permission of Laura Chavez

For more information on Laura Chavez, visit the following site:
http://www.candyekane.com/bio.html

??? Jason Ricci ??? by Virginiabluesman

Jason Ricci is generally regarded as one of the top harmonica players in the Blues world. He has jammed with some of the best musicians the Blues world has to offer, played the famous Blues Cruise, and recorded some oustanding CD's. One of his more recent shows, however, stands out from all the rest of his accomplishments, and he wasn't even the headliner. He wasn't even on the list of entertainers for the evening.
 
Tonight though, Sasha would be taking the stage. Not even knowing which end of the harmonica to blow on, the band decided to let her jam anyways. Once the band's harmonica player showed Sasha the right end to use, she started slowly convincing the band's harmonica player that she just might be able to carry a tune. The more she played, the better she got, until they both moved on to a great jam session... trading off licks and wowing the people in the club.

Jason Ricci

OK, I'm sure by now, you've figured out that Sasha is actually Jason Ricci. This was all a plan of Jason's to prank the fans, the band, and introduce a hot new chick to the Blues world. He went through a total transformation to become Sasha and I must give props to his makeup girl, She did a great job with the transformation, and Jason appeared to be totally comfortable in his new look.

Jason Ricci

In all seriousness though, Jason Ricci is an

incredibly talented musician and well respected in the Blues world. He is a body full of endless energy, talent, and has an obvious love for his trade. I wasn't there the night of this show, but the show can be seen at the link I will post at the end of this article. It's a funny video, but it also gives you a glimpse into the talented world of Jason Ricci. The band was obviously stumped throughout the song, but, judging by the look on their faces, a good time was had by all.

The pranked band was Nate Myer's band, a very good band, according to the video. I would hope to catch this band playing live at some point. Jason Ricci is constantly on tour, and well worth a listen or two. You can read more about this artist at http://www.jasonricci.com/, and his videos are easily available on Youtube.

                 

                                                    Sasha

To watch Sasha AKA Jason Ricci in the video described above, here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGvY0--rbko

Next week: Look for an interview of Laura Chavez, Candye Kane's outstanding Lead Guitarist.

Stacy Brooks, by Virginiabluesman

(Washington DC) I am always on the lookout for a good interview, a good show and especially, good artists to feature on this site. I promised on my very first post here that I would also feature up and coming artists that aren't exactly household names yet. The Stacy Brooks Band is a great place to start.

Stacy Brooks is an Independent, not yet having signed with a recording label. That is sure to change very soon. This week I had the opportunity to interview Miss Brooks and my respect for her grew, not only as a musician, but as a person. She was very charming, and totally cooperative during the interview process.

Stacy says some of her major musical interests in her career have been Etta James, KoKo Taylor, Shirley Caesar, and Mahalia Jackson. She also was quick to point out that her Mother kept her singing when she was young and helped shape her career. Listening to Stacy sing, a person can definitely see these great artists influences in her style.

Stacy Brooks has been nominated for two Wammy awards this year by the Washington Area Music Association for Best Blues/Traditional R&B Female Vocalist and Best Blues/Traditional R&B Recording for her live CD titled Live At The Surf Club. I have sampled tunes from this CD, and have found it to be an enjoyable eclectic group of songs, sure to satisfy music lovers of all ages and musical tastes.

Kenny Neal, Stacy Brooks & John Nemeth

Stacy's next project sounds like something that could help catapult her to another level of popularity. She is currently working on a studio CD in which she is the Executive Producer, and it is being co-produced by Blues great Kenny Neal and Memphis Gold. The CD is titled Love Peace and the Blues, and features a duet with Kenny Neal, and he will also be playing his guitar on the tune. The CD will also feature an impressive group of guest artists like Memphis Gold, Greg Boyer (plays in Prince's band) playing trombone, Skip Pruitt on saxophone (Toni Braxton), Kenny Neal on guitar, and Spoon on drums (played drums with Heatwave with hits such as Always and Forever, Boogie Nights...). This CD will be coming out soon.

I asked Stacy how she got into the Blues, and she said that she started out with The Crap Blues Band headed up by DC radio personality Mike O'Meara . She says they enjoyed a moderate amout of success, but they were not moving in the same direction , so she went her own way. Stacy, The Crap Blues Band? That gave me a good laugh, even though I AM a fan of Mike O'Meara. Mike, you didn't know just what you had!

You can buy Stacy Brooks award nominated Live At The Surf Club CD by going to her official website http://www.stacysmusic.org/. It is a good CD to add to your Blues collection, and it will turn you on to one of the top Blues artists in the area, Miss Stacy Brooks.

Performing with Guy King in Chicago

Here is what Stacy's DC area tour dates look like for the immediate future:

- February 13 - 7:00PM  219 King Street - Mardi Gras Party    Alexandria, Virginia

- March 5 - 10:00PM  Pisces BDay Bash at Bangkok Blues  Falls Church, Virginia

- March 20  Calvert County Fairgrounds  Prince Frederick, Md

- June 4 - 10:00PM  Bangkok Blues  Falls Church, Virginia

The Stacy Brooks Band

Stacy Brooks - Vocals/Percussions
Tony Fazio - Guitar
Jeremy Boyle - Guitar
Charles "Reds" Adkins - Bass
Calvin Newbill Jr. - Drums

 Love...Peace & The Blues, the CD is coming!

Stacy Brooks
http://www.stacysmusic.org/
www.myspace.com/stacybrooksmusic
www.deltaboogie.com/stacybrooks
www.sonicbids.com/stacybrooks

The New Soul Cowboys, by Virginiabluesman

 (Washington DC) What a week in the nation's capital! We are just starting to get over our last snow, and now the weather man projects 1-2 feet of snow(depending on the area). I'm a bit West of DC, and we typically get more snow than the city does, so we are in for a long weekend. Too much snow can definitely make a person Blue in D.C.

I originally had an interview with Anthony Gomes planned for this weeks article, but something came up on Anthony's side, so I will substitute the interview with a review of Mr Gomes band called the New Soul Cowboys. I know what you're thinking ... why would a band named New Soul Cowboys be on a Blues site? Anthony Gomes music is deeply influenced by the Blues, and has just recently changed his bands style to a form of Southern Rock. New Soul Cowboys describe their sound as Outlaw Rock 'N' Roll.

New Soul Cowboys are a power trio out of Nashville that can play kick@ss rock with the best of them. The band is composed of singer/guitarist Anthony Gomes, bassist David Karns, and drummer Peter Lang. It is great to see a band like this come out at a time where I feel Rock was taking a back seat to RAP , R&B and other styles of "music". No offense to those who like R&B ... I like it myself but these guys are going to make a big splash on the music scene very soon, and I am glad to see this resurgence. Here's a shocker ... these guys can actually PLAY their instruments, and very well at that.

Anthony Gomes

I will admit that I have only seen this band's videos on YouTube and have heard many of the tunes from their CD. No live show yet, but I will say that they are near the top of my list! Anthony Gomes is a well respected guitarist in the Blues world. I saw him jam with Miss Ana Popovic at a small venue a year or so ago, and he was totally awesome. He has total command of the guitar and has a great vocal style. The jam session was 99.9% Blues, which is always fine with me. He puts out an amazing tone, and he gives 101% for his fans, as did Ana.

"We have created a sound that embodies the rebel spirit of musical outcasts like Led Zeppelin, Johnny Cash and Howlin' Wolf. We're here to take back Rock 'N' Roll", the guitar-slinger boldly but unapologetically exclaims. "We are part of a new revolution in Rock. A place where bands know where the music came from, can really play their instruments, write their own songs and take no prisoners doing it. We couldn't care less about American Idol, we're here to take our music to the streets." All I can say is, THANK YOU so much Mr Gomes for bringing the Rock back to the people! Your bands music is sorely needed these days, and your band's versatility will take you to the top.

Anthony Gomes

I checked their tour schedule, and as of today, I don't see a show on the East Coast. I am sure that he will be doing shows in this area once the weather warms up and the Blues festivals begin. You can be sure that those shows will be posted on this site as soon as they become available.

"It's high noon, and I've got my six string by my side. I've been baptized by the Blues and saved by Rock 'N' Roll." Amen!

Check out The New Soul Cowboys at their official site http://www.newsoulcowboys.com/