The Great NW LRBR Tour

Here we go again…I’m packing up to enjoy four more Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue shows in Seattle, Tacoma, Portland and Albany. This incarnation is the ever-present Tommy Castro Band and Magic Dick with Deanna Bogart and Kenny Neal. Hoping to see the croozer faithful out in full force. Because, I mean…come on, guys…we know how to participate. In the San Francisco Bay Area this past weekend, the Revue was comprised of the TCB, MD and Kenny Neal with Janiva Magness. My, oh my. These two NorCal shows were blow-outs, although the energy generated by the crowd was palpably different. The Redwood City show was at The Fox Theatre, its classic décor an ideal blend with Magic Dick’s set. To say they were smoking could not be more true. I was in my usual up-front rocking-out spot, when in the middle of the show Scot Sutherland’s monitor started to emit wisps of smoke. He was hitting his mark toward the back of the stage, grooving on the vibe. I caught his eye, drew his eye to the monitor and mouthed, “Should I get Steve?” Crisis averted without skipping a beat. Further owing to the intensity of this show, and, yep, to the hotness of these guys, I witnessed something I’ve never seen at a blues show, a near catfight. OMG. Again, crisis averted, but what’s with that. Saw maybe ten or so croozers and expect that Tommy recruited more virgins to our ever-growing clan. Next night, the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa. Maybe it’s like cooking or sex in that you never really know what variables create an eternal memory. First, it’s a club, so it’s more intimate than a theater. Second, it was a Saturday night. Whatever it was, that recipe was mmm-mmm good. Each set was fun and heartfelt, blessed even. Janiva demonstrated why she’s the Best Contemporary Blues Artist two years running. She is a powerhouse performer and a gorgeous grandmother, to boot. Speaking of which, you gotta see her prancing among the cords and amps in those thigh-high stilettos. Egads, woman. I am impressed by that alone. She’s also a Bluzapalooza veteran, the tour that entertains our troops in Kuwait and Iraq–and the very same tour our own Deanna Bogart is heading on in a few short weeks. Kenny Neal opened the jam and I may never be the same. I told Tommy after the show, “I believe you know that I do not say this lightly. That jam was of legendary proportions. And you, Tommy Castro, are an impressive impresario.” He seemed pleased. Just look at what he’s crafted: A changing tableau of talented artists who deliver a spontaneous blend of heart, soul, high-powered tunes about the human condition, and kick-a** great times, time and time and time again. A cadre of croozers gathered on the dance floor and, this time, we weren’t the only ones who knew how to rock out. A couple of guys used it as their So You Think You Can Dance try-out. The rest of us grooved as we normally do, stopping occasionally to hug and scream about Pool Deck moments and countdowns and “Aren’t we luckiest people in the world” kinda stuff. At one point, keyboardist Mike Emerson and I had a “Me too!” celebration of the vibe, fluttering our hands from our hearts to the Universe on high, mouths hanging open in awe of this thing we had all created together. I suppose all of this helps explain my attraction to the Revue. It’s always the same quality entertainment no matter who the players are. Yet it’s always different in character because of who the players are. I’ve said it before and I know I’ll say it again, “Whatever snake oil these guys are selling, I’m buying. I figure it’s cheaper than a visit to the spa and a helluva lot more fun!” Some folks go to the ashram to charge up their chakras. For me, I’ll take the Revue. It’s the best way I know to stay in training for the next Blues Cruise. And that's a job I take seriously. Charge!

War’s up for the R & R Hall of Fame!

War – the artists we croozers know and love as The Lowriders – is among the 2009 nominees for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. What an honor, so very well deserved and a long time coming. I saw War in 1975 in St. Louis at Kiel Auditorium. It was a pivotal night for me, because it was the last rock concert I ever saw from the outside looking in. The next day, I went to work for the promoter and experienced firsthand how the sausage is made. The following morning I arrived at the office in full afterglow, gushing and thanking my new bosses for such a phenomenal show. Then I promptly got called on the carpet for not coming backstage to say hello and meet the artists. Argh. The Average White Band opened. Color aside, they were anything but. I loved ‘em then, love ‘em now and am grabbing myself a Post-it so I can remember to write ‘em in on Roger’s surveys. I digress, but I always do. OK, so…then it was time for War. The crowd calmed down, the lights dimmed to pitch black and there before us, looming large on the stage, was a crackly ol’ black & white flick of Cisco Kid. Suddenly, the silhouettes of the musicians claimed the stage. The familiar strains kicked in and that was that. We were theirs for the night – and far, far beyond. Much has been written about this unique and diverse group, musically and ethnically, far more eloquently than I could attempt. But suffice it to say, that show remains locked in whatever brain cells of mine are still functioning. Could have been at a blues club in Sacramento, then again could have been in the Lido line, where I told Howard Scott I was at that show. “St. Louis. That would have been Kiel Auditorium. Yes, I remember. We opened with Cisco Kid,” he said, filling in the details before I could. Now, I’ve seen many a memorable show – many with you guys. First concert ever, The Beatles. A string of Springsteen’s legendary sound checks and the shows that went with them. And this one. Don’t ask me for a Top Ten list. But Top 25? They’re there. So, congratulations again and again to the Lowriders, the artists formerly known as War. Vote early. Vote often. Let’s get these guys in the Hall of Fame! Peace out.

A Lil Birthday Story for Deanna Bogart

Happy birthday, Miss Ellaneous B! It’s a silly private joke, that Miss Ellaneous B name. When Tower Records was forced to close its doors in 2006, owing largely to the Internet and big-box stores, I made a few pilgrimages to the original location in Sacramento before its sad and final day. There in the Blues bin were a lot more artist divider cards than CDs. One of them: Deanna Bogart’s. So I took it up to the register along with a stack of music and asked the tatted, spiked and Gothy clerk if I could have it. She looked at me as though I were an oddity. I felt it necessary to explain. “She’s a friend of mine. And I know she’d appreciate this being from Tower and all.” “WHAT? She is a friend of yours? You mean…you know her? You know her? Really?” “Uhhh, yes. We met in a mudslide a few years back in Montego Bay. And we’ve been friends ever since.” The next time I saw Deanna, I gave her the divider card and told her the story and we had a good laugh. The greatest part of all this is the fact that Deanna had her own Tower divider card. “You know,” she said, “they usually put me in Miscellaneous B. My own card with my name on it. Wow!” Humble and grateful. Warm and genuine. Exceedingly talented. That’s our Deanna! HAPPY BIRTHDAY from us all, Miss B! And many happy returns!