ChicagoBluesTour™ Spring '10 May 22

Tips to Get the Most out of the Blues Tour; Weather Outlook

admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:47:52 +0000

SOME TIPS ON HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE BLUES TOUR:

1. Look at this as a sampler, a buffet, just try out the bands and don’t try to force your way to see a specific band. Don’t try to outsmart the tour — the bus schedules are intended to move people around, but NOT for point-to-point travel. If you just keep moving, you will get to a lot of clubs, but if you try to “force” going to the clubs in a specific order, you may end up seeing less music and spending more time riding on buses. We will always send you to the clubs at the time when they are scheduled to have music, not before. It doesn’t do any good to get to a club before the band does.

2. Earlier is better, get the earliest departure time you can and then move up if you can via “stand-by”. If there’s an empty seat — get on the bus!

3. If the club you’ve arrived at is overcrowded — get back on the bus and try to come back later! Same thing if it looks like the band is not getting ready to start.

4. If your friends couldn’t get tix for the same departure as you, of if they arrived late — get on the bus, meet up later at Checkerboard or Taste or Spectrum, you’ll make some new friends, I promise.

5. Around midnight, start figuring out where you want to end the night. You should try to start working you way toward your final destination at midnight, which is when the buses start making their final trips. At the end of the night, all buses return downtown, but if everyone is jammed into the same locations, there will be delays while buses shuttle back and forth, so help us out by keeping the crowd distributed. (see #3 and #2 above).

6. On the schedule, “END” means “END”, from there the bus goes back downtown. We might drop you another club along the way, but don’t “END” at Rosa’s and expect us to get you to Lee’s Unleaded.

WEATHER OUTLOOK

Super Percy @ Taste Entertainment Center (Audio)

admin — Wed, 19 May 2010 08:11:41 +0000

“Super” Percy Wood was raised just up Highway 61 in Duncan, where at 13 his churchgoing grandmother noticed his interest in singing, and encouraged him to form a gospel quartet. Percy idolized Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, but also was attracted to the differently-soulful secular music of Fats Domino, a tension that continues to influence his work today. He moved to Chicago as a young man, and formed a group called The Injections in the mid-70s, performing around the Chicago area for several years until he was befriended by local bluesman Pervis Scott, and he began singing with Scott’s Oasis band. By the mid-90s had formed His Soul Clique, playing gigs all over Chicago’s south side and south suburbs, eventually landing a coveted Thursday night at Lee’s Unleaded Blues, where he grew a strong following. Like “Black-album”-era Prince, his sets occupy a space somewhere between blues, soul, funk and rock, and the band has a crossover appeal and an uncanny knack for getting audiences of all kinds up on their feet, with rhythmically-dense arrangements and Percy’s rich baritone. He’s one of four soul singers with distinct styles on the Tour, which also features Fantastic L-Roy, Sherman “Moody” Thomas, and JoJo Murray. On the Spring 2010 Chicago Blues Tour, Sat. May 22, he’s appearing at his current home base, the Taste Zodiac Lounge.
(8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)

If you get a ticket for the 7:30 departure, it’ll drop you at the Taste just in time for Super Percy’s first set.

You might also want to click this link to read Frequently Asked Questions, or click this link to see the list of performers and clubs.

Super Percy AUDIO:
Click here to listen to Super Percy singing Feelin Sexy

Fantastic L-Roy & the Bulletproof Band @ Linda’s Place (Audio, Video)

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 08:12:18 +0000

Fantastic L-Roy has grown on me more and more over time, as I’ve begun to see his deeper influences. He’s kind of a cross between Louis Armstrong and Sam Cooke, straddling the line between jazz and soul. He’s a master at working the crowd, roaming the retro-70s room at Linda’s Place with a wireless mike, phrasing songs conversationally, occasionally pouring a customer’s drink behind the bar while he croons. The Bulletproof Band is supple, shifting smoothly from R&B to soul to jazz, like a point guard dishing shots to L-Roy.
Linda’s Place is a sweet little haven in a neighborhood that needs more bright spots like this. Catch L-Roy in his usual mode at Linda’s Place on the Spring 2010 Chicago Blues Tour, Saturday, May 22. (8:30 pm. to 1:30 a.m.)

Fantastic L-Roy VIDEO:
Fantastic L-Roy Live Video 12//08/08

AUDIO: Click here to listen to Leave Our Love Alone by Fantastic L-Roy

Vance Kelly & the Backstreet Blues Band @ Checkerboard Lounge (Audio, Video)

admin — Mon, 17 May 2010 07:30:55 +0000

Vance Kelly is one of the few acts in Chicago who was able to please audiences on the South, West and North sides, with a versatile band that spans the wide spectrum of blues material, from old soul chestnuts to funk to raw down-home blues, which sometimes ventures into the “blue” topical territory, but that’s okay in a club environment where everyone’s over 21. His broad repertoire includes a version of Prince’s “Purple Rain” which is typically a show-stopper. Guitarist Kelly plays all over the world, but when he’s not touring, Checkerboard Lounge has long been his “home base”, stretching back to its years as a rough and ready landmark of 43rd St. He’s one of several guitarists with distinct styles on the Tour, which also features Michael Coleman, Rob Blaine, Chris Canas, Linsey Alexander, and Chainsaw Dupont.
(9:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)

You might also want to click this link to read Frequently Asked Questions, or click this link to see the list of performers and clubs.

Vance Kelly VIDEO:

AUDIO:
Click the link below to listen to Vance Kelly singing “Joyriding in the Subway”:
Joyriding in the Subway, Vance Kelly

Linsey Alexander @Spectrum Bar & Grill

admin — Sat, 15 May 2010 08:27:08 +0000

Linsey Alexander

Linsey Alexander probably appears more times during the week in Chicago than any other blues artist, a testament to his appeal as a performer, but also to his uncanny knack for creating songs that have pop familiarity with blues depth. A supple guitarist and vocalist, he’s well-known for quirky blues interpretations of non-blues pop songs, and his originals are infused with familiar phrases without resorting to mere mimicry. As the famous saying goes, thieves steal, artists expropriate, and Alexander has absorbed quite a bit of pop into his blues.

On the Spring 2010 Chicago Blues Tour, Sat. May 22, he’s appearing at his home base, the Spectrum Bar & Grill in Greek Town, and if you just can’t get enough blues, you can stay there at the end of the tour, because the music keeps on going until 4AM.

Chris Canas @Lizzie McNeill’s

admin — Thu, 13 May 2010 08:45:24 +0000

Chris Canas

For a young performer, Chris Canas has an old soul. His original blues songs speak with much greater depth than would be expected from mid-20s performer, and aside from topical concerns, they show poise that usually requires a bit more age. His songs are solidly in the urban blues mold, but have the “churchy” feel that predominates in Chicago’s south side black clubs, without losing the rockin’ elements that make white clubgoers scream. That’s a tough act to pull off, and only a few artists — Vance Kelly, also on the Spring 2010 Chicago Blues Tour, comes to mind — can actually tailor their sets to the audience at hand. Chris Canas calls his band the Blues Revolution, which might seem a bit pretentious, but the crossover appeal of his material does seem to undermine blues categorization the way that Prince’s similarly-named band did with funk and soul music. Canas plays soul tunes in a rock style, in such a way that fans of either one can appreciate his talent, and the band seems well-schooled in the blues idiom, which keeps them tethered enough to improvise. He’s one of many innovative guitarists on the tour, including Michael Coleman, Chainsaw Dupont, Linsey Alexander, Vance Kelly, and Donna Herula. You can find out more about them by clicking “Guitarists” under Featured Artists at the left.

On the Spring 2010 Chicago Blues Tour, Sat., May 22, Canas is the featured act at the “hub” of the tour, Lizzie McNeill’s, so don’t be afraid to check back through during the evening. You can hear the gospel-flavored workout “Crank Dat Blues & Drive” at the bottom of this post.

LAST CHANCE: Ticket Mail-Out deadline – 8PM May 12

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 07:30:29 +0000

If you want to get tickets by mail, get ‘em today…Ticketweb’s mail-out deadline is 8PM tonight for phone orders, midnight for orders placed online. Order today to avoid will-call surcharges.

Call 866-468-3401 before 8PM CST to order, ask for the “Chicago Blues Tour” on May 22. You can also click the button below to order online until midnight and still receive tickets by mail.

Chainsaw Dupont @The Water Hole (Audio)

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 08:44:04 +0000

Chainsaw Dupont

Chainsaw Dupont has built a strong following in Chicago by swimming against the tide, performing original material rather than the slew of preferred “classic blues” covers that are favored on the touristy blues circuit. Updating the classic blues of his idols like Albert King and Muddy Waters with modern sounds, he still retains the soulful underpinnings that have always made the blues work. Dupont has made his mark and attracted some of the best young musicians in Chicago to his live band. His following includes both traditional blues fans and others who appreciate the musicianship of the band. Chainsaw is also one of the best practitioners of the slow blues, building tension slowly and meticulously, without resorting to pyrotechnics. He’s appearing on the Spring 2010 Chicago Blues Tour, Sat. May 22, at The Water Hole, a roadhouse just off of a stretch of old Route 66, which has a friendly crowd of regulars drawn from the surrounding neighborhoods, and a genial owner who’s run the joint for over 30 years. Dupont’s got a new live recording out (The Real Guitar Hero) which was recorded during the Winter ’07 Chicago Blues Tour, and a second live CD, (Acoustified/Electrified) that is being released the night before the tour with a special show at Lee’s Unleaded. (7:30 PM to 1:30 AM )

When the 7PM departure, which would take you to Chainsaw’s first set, is sold out, you can try to get there via Rosa’s Lounge and Rooster’s Palace, or For The Good Times Lounge.

AUDIO: Click here to listen to Chainsaw Dupont playing Saccharine

Michael Coleman / Rob Blaine guitar duel @ Rosa’s Lounge

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 09:11:54 +0000

Michael Coleman

Michael Coleman‘s hefty reputation has been built upon the kind of “guitarist’s guitarist” credibility that few artists ever achieve. He was one of the favorite acts on North Halsted’s “Blues Alley” for years, before diabetes almost stopped his career in its tracks. After his doctor told him to lose 150 pounds and change his lifestyle, Coleman re-ordered his priorities and complied. He’s now stronger, healthy, and at the start of an epic second-act comeback career that most guitarists would be happy to have as their first act.

Coleman remains firmly in the best traditions of the Blues Kings, favoring Albert and Freddie more than B.B., with a trademark propulsive guitar attack that makes even the simplest jam into a force of nature. In Coleman’s hands, a slow blues is ecstatic, and a blues shuffle becomes positively anthemic, a trait that has made him a beloved club act worldwide. He makes every note count, letting the rhythm section carry the song while he focuses on melodic spice.

Rob Blaine

On the Spring 2010 Chicago Blues Tour, May 22, he appears at Rosa’s Lounge, a woody room where his guitar should sound fatter than usual, and an old-school tavern-style blues bar like those he made his name in as a rising star. If you get a ticket on the 7:40 departure to Rosa’s, you’ll be able to park yourself at a table near the stage for the duel between veteran Coleman and young turk guitarist Rob Blaine, who worked with lightning fast fretman Melvin Taylor for a time, and has the same fondness for multi-note progressions. The style contrast of this double-bill should be enlightening — with a sizable number of blues fans favoring either attack. These are only two of the many guitarists with varied styles who are featured on the Spring 2010 Chicago Blues Tour, including Chainsaw Dupont, Linsey Alexander, Vance Kelly, Chris Canas, and Donna Herula. You can read about all the guitarists by clicking “Guitarists” in the Featured Artists section at the left.

You can hear a bit of Coleman in full club mode below:

Sherman “Moody” Thomas @Lee’s Unleaded Blues

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:13:44 +0000

Sherman "Moody" Thomas

Sherman Thomas has made a career singing smooth club soul, popular on the lounge and banquet-hall circuit both for his crooning and for his double-entendre plays. While he’s built his fan base in great part on the suggestive material that seems to be evergreen on the lounge circuit, he’s also able to subvert the standard motifs with songs like “I Cheated Myself”, which, like Johnny Taylor’s best material, capitalizes on the listener’s expectations and draws them into a story that would be a subplot in other songs. He’s a consummate entertainer with the chops to get away with this kind of subversive twist on convention, and typically he doesn’t play venues as small as Lee’s Unleaded, which means that the audience interaction should be amplified far more than at most of his gigs.

On the Spring 2010 Chicago Blues Tour, May 22nd, the best way to see him is to take one of the shuttles heading down to Lee’s from Lizzie McNeill’s or Checkerboard Lounge. He’s one of several soul singers on the Spring 2010 Chicago Blues Tour, which also includes Fantastic L-Roy, Super Percy, and JoJo Murray. You can read about them all by clicking on “Soul Singers” at the left.