Mississippi Valley Blues Challenge - 7 featured bands

On occasion, I have reported on band “battles”, such as RIBCO’s battle a few weeks back. This week, I’m writing about seven bands, all with one goal: to represent the Mississippi Valley Blues Society and the state of Iowa in the International Blues Challenge. This post isn’t so much about the Mississippi Valley Blues Challenge as it is about the bands that hope to make it to Memphis.

The time between the application date for the Challenge and the first round was short. Because of that and distance, I wasn’t able to see some of the bands before the first round, so I decided it would be better to watch the first 2 rounds, see all seven bands in contest mode, and write about them before the 3^rd round. As of this writing, two of the three finalist bands have been chosen. On Sunday, May 12, a third finalist will be chosen through double elimination. All three finalists will perform on Friday, July 5 at the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, with the winner performing again on Saturday evening.

The Harris Collection was the first band performing in the first round on April 28^th. As I’ve noted in earlier blogs, this is one band I’ve been watching for a while, and I’ve seen them grow into their music. I was pleased to see they were competing this year, and equally pleased to see Shon Harris has stepped up as a vocalist.

 

 

The Chris Avey Band started with something unique in this year’s event. Their bass player began the set with a string bass, though finished with a bass guitar. Their set showed a variety of blues styles,

indicating their diversity. Chris Avey proved he can sing – and then some.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Jared Hughes Band came together especially for the Challenge. Jared Hughes has a wide-ranging yet updated style. His portfolio of original music is equally diverse. 

The Rock Island Rollers is a band out of Des Moines. They are last year’s Iowa Blues Challenge winners. They put on one heck of a show. Of note was their amazing keyboardist. The Rock Island Rollers won the first round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serious Business opened the second round of Challenge preliminaries on May 5th. This 2012 finalist band returned with a personnel change and a change in sound. New vocalist Willie (The Mac) McNeill heralded their return to blues basics, and created a rapport with the audience. Serious Business won the second round.

 

 

 

 

 

Wheelhouse, from Fort Dodge, Iowa delivered the only female vocalist in the challenge.  … connected with the audience well.  Wheelhouse puts on a solid show, in regards to both their

musical talent and their ability to entertain the audience.

 

The Mississippi Misfits, also 2012 finalists, closed the second round of preliminaries with a dynamic performance. At one point while taking photos from right behind the judges I turned and looked back to see a sea of arms in the back of the house lifted into the air.  Guitarist Ren Edstrand won over nearly the entire audience with his emotional vocals and guitar artistry.

 

 

 

 

I would like to commend all of the bands that took part in the preliminaries on April 28^th and May 5^th. They all put forth a great effort, and I know full well the amount of time and work that went into preparing for the Challenge. The five bands that did not win their rounds were invited back for a double elimination round on May 12^th (this coming Sunday). Four of the bands have accepted, with only Wheelhouse opting out. Wheelhouse had the farthest to travel for the contest. The music starts at 6 PM and ends at 9 PM. Come on out and show your support!

This week: 

Tonight - check out Danika Holmes at Barrelhouse 211 and Jason Carl at RIBCO. Or go to a jam session - Muddy's, Rascals or the Dam View.

Friday - The Muddy Waters has The Mercury Brothers, Fresh Jive Revival with Rude Punch are playing at RIBCO, and The Franti Project is at the Brady Street Pub. Cheese Pizza is at Martini's on the Rock with Shadow Stone, Chuck Murphy is playing the Doc's Inn, and Calliko is in the Redstone Room. House Arrest is at Rascals, and Buckshot is at Racer's Edge.

 

Saturday - The Dirt Road Rockers are at Mulligan's Valley Pub, Mound street Landing has North of 40, and Chris Avey Band is at RIBCO. The Blackstones are playing Barrel House 211, The Muddy Waters has Jason Elmore, and Adam Faucett is at Rozz-Tox. Vodkaseven is playing the Hawkeye, 3rd Street Villains are at the Brady Street Pub, and Smooth Groove is at Martini's on the Rock. Ambushed is playing Hollar's, Generations has Caught in the Act and Chuck Murphy is at the Daiquiri Factory.