Blues ... And A Little More Than Live Music

Yes, last weekend was Blues Fest… and yes, I was there most of the weekend. Except I attended musical at the District Theatre on Friday and left early on Saturday to hang out in Muscatine with 1^st Impression.

Friday evening I opted for the opening night of Xanadu. With the impending storm, I was glad I did that rather than try to attend the festival. Things got a bit soggy on the riverfront Friday night. Briefly – Xanadu was a fun, campy romp, and I would certainly see it again if my schedule permitted. My favorite song was ELO’s “Evil Woman”. Sara King and Tracy Pelzer-Timm knocked it out of the ballpark. I also enjoyed how some of the sappier songs were sung and choreographed over the top, keeping them from being just sappy and making the musical as a whole just that much more hilarious.

I thought my favorite line was “Isn’t falling in love just like banging your head into a brick wall?” – Danny to Sonny.

Then I heard this line: “Are the big hands and big feet trying to tell me a story I need to hear Clio?” - Aphrodite

There were some local references injected into the script as well as some cool 80’s humor. I really enjoyed how DT took liberties with the script here and there. The popcorn was a great touch!

 This was my first Blues Fest with a decent camera…and my first time back in a few years. I learned early in the weekend that it was better to have a VIP pass to get close to the stage for those up-shots I love to take, and for my Sony’s wimpy 18-55 lens. So to my friends who hate cropping, I cropped the heck out of most of my photos from Blues Fest. But standing behind the barrier gave me some interesting perspective, and angles all those folks with VIP passes didn’t have.

My main interest in attending Blues Fest this year was a return engagement by Trampled Under Foot. The Schneleben family trio played last summer’s River Roots Live festival. They dealt with non-existent monitors and still put on a great show. So I knew I wanted to hear them again, and this time they blew me away. I think Grace Potter might have to step aside, as I’ve discovered a new idol in bass-wielding singer Danielle. Not only is she great to hear, Danielle is great fun to photograph as well.

I caught a few other acts over the course of the two days I attended, including The Brooks Family and Lady Bianca on Sunday and Doug MacLeod, Preston Shannon and The Earnest Dawkins Quartet on Saturday. I’m looking forward to next year’s festival, and will remember to score a VIP pass in advance.

I left Blues Fest Saturday night and headed for Muscatine. 1^st Impression played an outdoor show at Missippi Brew, hosted by the Muscatine Young Professionals. It was pretty muggy down by the riverfront, but that didn’t slow down Becky or the guys.

Speaking of muggy weather, expect a little info about Fourth of July festivities in my next blog…

This week:

Tonight is Jam night at The Muddy Waters!!  Come on down – if you’re a musician, join in on the fun. If you’re not, come on out anyway for some great jams!! You won’t be disappointed.

Danika Holmes is playing Barrelhouse 211 tonight as well.

Tomorrow, Chuck Murphy is at Pearl City Station, Danika Holmes is playing Hero’s Pub, The Mississippi Misfits are at The Muddy Waters, and Rozz-Tox is hosting a 3 band lineup that includes the Candymakers. Ohh boy… Hope that little place is ready for the Candymakers’ following…

Saturday is the Party in the Street at Racer’s Edge, featuring 1^st Impression, Evolution and 4^th and 20. Alan Sweet’s Pieces of Candy will be at The Muddy Waters, and The J Spot will be at The Rusty Nail. 100 West is hosting Cosmic. For you early folks – Check out Chuck Murphy at the Creekside Vineyard in Coal Valley. Wine tasting and acoustic music!

More photos can be seen on my Flickr page here: Roberta's Flickr Page

Get out and enjoy some cool beverages and Local Live Music!!

More Live Music Than You Can Shake A Stick At

It is Thursday and I’m writing about local live music again…

Last Thursday, I stopped in at Bass Street Landing for Danika Holmes’ acoustic show on the outdoor stage there. I think she currently has one of the best female voices in the QC. Her sound is calculated and well-polished. I took a few photos – and caught Vid James out with his camera as well. I’m looking forward to seeing his work. He showed me a couple of previews, and they were stunning. 

After Bass Street, I wandered back across the I-74 bridge to Bettendorf and The Muddy Waters. Yes, it was Johnny O. Jam night, and I had the day off on Friday! Wouldn’t it just figure though – it was a slow night at the Jam… where was everyone?  John says this happens often when the bar has a band on a Thursday night instead of a jam night. It takes a few weeks to rebuild both the crowd and the number of musicians. The faithful few who did attend made it a good night though. 

Hollywood Dave- Sax!

Friday was the night for outdoor shows! I began at 5, with the RME Friday Live at Five show. Machine Gun Willie was playing on the courtyard. I’ve never seen this band, but enjoyed every minute I was there. Willie touts a mean saxophone player – and the rest of the band is pretty darn good too! I’ll definitely be looking to see them again. After the RME, I headed for the River House in Moline. Keep Off The Grass started at 8, but I’ve learned to get there early. As big as that plaza is, and as many tables as there are, it fills up fast! So, early it was – I grabbed a bite to eat and waited for the show to start. If you haven’t seen Keep Off The Grass since the retirement of former drummer Steve Reando, you really should check them out. Their sound is evolving with the addition of Tom Zick. 

Keep Off The Grass

I also took a swing by Rozz-Tox Friday night. I listened to a jazz string ensemble with an amazing female vocalist, and some Russian Gypsy guitar. Unfortunately, the place was packed front to back and spilling out the door, so I wasn’t able to get any photos. I honestly couldn’t say I “watched” as it was definitely only a “listen” situation. Great for Rozz-Tox and the performers… not so great for the amateur photographer. But I enjoyed the music, and the change from my normal blues/rock choices.

Lee had plenty of takers at Creekside Vineyard

Chuck Murphy schmoozed the Grape Life

Saturday afternoon I visited Creekside Vineyard in Coal Valley with Lee Blackmon. The Vineyard folks offer up live acoustic music on the patio every Saturday afternoon. Jen tells me there are plans working for a live music amphitheatre across the road from the main house within the next couple of years. Meanwhile, you can take a picnic, sample wine, and listen to local acoustic favorites every Saturday. Check out the schedule and plan a trip out. Saturday evening I stopped by The Grape Life and listened to Chuck Murphy. This young acoustic performer is coming along – and his schedule is filling up too. I highly recommend checking out his show. Oh – and after I told Chuck I wasn’t going to Purgatory’s, I ended up there after all… Evolution has a powerful (understatement) sound, and they were hitting it hard at Purgs Saturday night. I didn’t stay long… but it looked like they had a good crowd. 

Tonight – Danika Holmes is outside at the Bettendorf Public Library Pavilion. It’s hot out, but I haven’t heard anything about a cancellation. Take an umbrella for shade and plenty of water! Show starts at 6:30.

There is no Jam tonight at Muddy’s. I would like to take this moment to remind everyone there WILL be a jam next Thursday! Let’s show John O’Meara some support and make sure there are plenty of people there next week. I’m starting a one-woman crusade!

In case you haven’t heard… there’s a Blues Festival in LeClaire park this weekend.  And a Jazz festival all weekend in Iowa City. 

Friday Night: Lee Blackmon starts at 6 at the Rhythm City Casino. He’ll be there Saturday too. Caught In The Act is at Generations bar, and Crossroads is outside at the Riverhouse. Tronicity is pulling a two-night gig at the 11^th Street Precinct. Chuck Murphy scored a show at the Missipi Brew in Muscatine.

Saturday Night: Danika Holmes is playing The Grape Life, The Mound St. Landing has Cosmic. I’ll be in Muscatine with 1^st Impression at The Missipi Brew.

The Sunday evening series at the Captain’s Table continues with The Night People.

For more photos, check out my Flickr page here

Influence

We all have influences in our lives. Some are good, some… not so good. But regardless of the type, they are still influences. At the same time, we influence others. Often, we’re not even aware how we have influenced someone else. Our children are a prime example of the strength of our influence.

Music, Motorcycles and More

For 18 years the Quad Cities has been blessed to have its own motorcycle rally. But it has always been so much more than a motorcycle rally. With a humble beginning in the Village of East Davenport, musicians and motorcycle enthusiasts all got together for a whole lot of rumbling – that wasn’t entirely Harley engines. I’ll spare you all the history – as some reading this know far more about the history and the inner workings of this event that I can ever know. Eighteen years ago I walked to my first Sturgis on the River, as I lived just a few blocks from the Village at that time. What has now become the Mississippi River Motorcycle Rally is far larger than anything some of us ever imagined it would become.

Music and More: It’s Summer and That Means…

I wonder if anyone thought I might be skipping the live music blog this week. Absolutely NOT! On top of all my other activities, I hit a few live music shows too, and I absolutely have to remind everyone to attend a certain motorcycle rally…

Nervous Rex returns!

Let’s start with Thursday. I always seem to start with Thursday. But I’m going to do it again this week. Only, my week didn’t start out at a Jam session, it started at Bass Street Landing with the return of a local favorite band, “Nervous Rex”. I would like to state for the record that I never saw Nervous Rex before Thursday. I’m sorry about that – because I really got into their tunes Thursday evening. Rex definitely has a blues-influenced sound.  There is no doubt in my mind I’ll be seeing more of this band!

Jam sessions bring together musicians from all walks

On my way home from the Bass Street Landing show in Moline, I stopped by The Muddy Waters to check out Johnny O’s Jam. As usual, the crowd was good and the music better. I am absolutely a blues fan, and most of the folks who show up at Muddy’s have that blues feel. One of these weeks, I’m taking Friday off work so I can stay late at the jam. I suspect I’m missing out on some great musicians as the evening always runs later than I can stay.

Lee's Go-go dancers

Due to Saturday’s Race for the Cure, I decided not to stay out late Friday night – I had an early morning. And I’m no morning person! I did spend a little time at Cool Beanz with Lee Blackmon. I’m beginning to see Lee’s shows as an opportunity to keep my voice oiled up and my ear tuned. Friday night was no exception, though Cool Beanz is one of the locations where Lee gets plenty of takers for the sing-along. He had a couple of cute go-go dancers this week as well. 

More District Theatre here

Saturday night I attended the District Theatre’s show “We Are Young”. I had so much to write about the show that I gave it a separate blog post, which you can see here. Vid James, drummer and vocalist for Nervous Rex was involved with this show and sent me the invite. 

Sundays are usually reserved for family gatherings, church-type stuff and preparing myself for the upcoming workweek (which often includes recovering from a busy weekend!) However, I had scheduled my first portrait session for Sunday evening along Ben Butterworth Parkway, which yielded an opportunity for dinner and live music at The Captain’s Table. 

It turns out that the Dirt Road Rockers were playing Sunday evening on the outdoor stage. I’ve seen this bunch before, but they’ve had a personnel change since the last time I saw them. The band is sporting a new bass player. This was a good opportunity to hear them. The last time I saw the band they were inside at Martini’s, which is a very small venue. They’re well-suited to an outdoor venue.

What’s up for the weekend?

In case you haven’t heard the rumbling, there’s a motorcycle rally going on…

Just a quick rundown of the bands scheduled at the Mississippi River Motorcycle Rally:

Thursday – In the Scooters tent: Vigil Annie, High Drama, Dirt Road Rockers.

In the Choppers tent: Crossroads

On the Corona stage: Stuart Mathews, Keep Off The Grass

Friday – In the Scooters tent: Corporate Rock, Natty Scratch, Geneva

In the Choppers tent:  Modern Mythology, Bottoms Up Burlesque, Tronicity, Tailfins, Sugar Nipples

On the Corona Stage: Wes Weeber, BMT, House Arrest

Saturday – In the Scooters tent: Nervous Rex, Pash-n-brew, Hap Hazard, The Recliners, and Kings Kiss

In the Choppers tent: The Funnies, Spike, Night People, 1st Impression, Mercury Brothers, the Old 57s

On the Corona Stage: Wes Weeber, Johnny Outlaw, 2^nd Wind, BMT.

Thanks to MRMRally for the updated list.

I’ll be there for some of the bands – and most of Saturday. However I’ll be leaving after 1^st Impression is finished so I can sing with Lee Blackmon. Which means I’ll be missing out on the final Kings Kiss show…

There are other things going on besides the rally this weekend:

The Hillcrest Event center in Orion has a bit of a weekend music festival-

Friday’s lineup includes: Wild Oatz, Dirt Road Rockers, Slough Boys and Dani Lynn Howe

Saturday’s bands are: Sinners and Saints, Wicked Liz and the Bellyswirls, Meet the Press, Dani Lynn Howe (and headliner – Jimmie Van Zant)

Thursday the Karry Outz are playing on the Bass Street Landing Stage

Friday- Night People and Grazin District are at the New Rusty Nail, Justin Morrissey and Drunken Angels are playing the 11^th St. Precinct, and The Muddy Waters has The Mercury Brothers

Saturday – Dirt Road Rockers and Grazin District are playing the Daiquiri Factory, Blues Hounds are at The Muddy Waters, Jim the Mule is playing Bent River Brewery, 11^th Street Precinct has Cosmic, and I’ll be joining Lee Blackmon at Bleyarts in the Village.

Race for the Cure

Saturday I had the honor of joining a group of women who joined the much, much larger Komen Race for the Cure in Moline. This was my second year to walk the course with this wacky bunch of women.  And I do mean wacky!

We Are Young

I’ll admit it - I’m a theater geek. I have been since I was oh… 15 or 16. I’ve even done something recently, though I took a few years off. (You can read about my not-so-stellar return to the stage at  Sudden Theater here.)

So when a friend sent me the invite to the Rock and Roll review at the District Theatre, I saw an opportunity to see the new theatre, enjoy some great tunes, and maybe get some different photos. My first task was to make sure theatre management was OK with me bringing in a camera. Not only were they good with the idea, Tristan Tapscott said “as long as you post photos on Facebook!” Yeah – he knows good free marketing when he sees it.