- Mikey Jr. schools the crowd!
Party! It’s the only word needed to summarize Friday night’s activity at the 21st Annual Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society’s (www.bjfm.org) Blues Festival. And if you don’t believe me, just ask one of the other several hundred music fans in attendance at Marietta’s Hotel Lafayette ballroom.
For the uninitiated, the word “blues” often conjures up the misconception of down trodden woe-is-me roots music. Sure there is a family tree which encompasses a wide spectrum of feelings and attitudes within the “blues music” family, but when it comes to the BJFM Blues Festival it’s all about the boogie!
Friday night was no exception to this rule as New Jersey’s Mikey Jr. & the Stone Cold Band kicked off the weekend long festivities. Originally billed as a four piece band, Mikey Jr. had a little trick up his sleeve with the addition of guitarist Dean Shot. This set up a powerful three way dynamic between Mikey Jr.’s harmonica, Matt Daniels lead guitar and Shot’s fiery guitar interplay as the three tossed the energy around like the old comical ticking bomb ready to explode.
Well folks something did explode, and it was the wall of sound from the stage. Not only does Mikey Jr. blow a mean harp but he also understands the important fundamental that it’s not his party, it’s everybody’s party! As Mikey Jr. wandered into the crowd to weave a steamy story or two, drummer Adam Strasberg and bassist Jimmy Pritchard provided the groove that made it clear that everyone was going to have fun together and Mikey Jr. let it be well known that he was right there with them.
But the party was just getting started, and next up was the Lionel Young Band. Now many of the fans might have been commenting, “I’ve never seen a blues band with an electric violin”, they soon found out just how Young could make it wail. With Andre Mali providing punctuation marks and riffs on trumpet, Young played his violin in every conceivable way. Fiddle, mandolin, electric guitar leads were all emanating from the four strings of the sleek black instrument. The boogie was indeed on!
Lionel Young funky pickin'!
At the end of Young’s set the crowd was still up and ready to boogie. After a sheepish grin towards Mali, Young began strumming the familiar high notes of Prince’s hit song “Kiss” and the dance floor erupted again. As the band grooved through the extended dance version of the song, everyone grinned from ear to ear after being ordained “sexxxxxy motherfuckers” by the man with the funky violin in his hand!
If you’re kicking yourself for missing what is the best guaranteed party of the year in the Mid-Ohio Valley, don’t despair. You have all day Saturday to enjoy the festival. At 12:15 p.m., Mark Doebrich leads area high school music students through traditional & contemporary blues selections as part of the Blues in the Schools “High Schools That Rock” project.
At 2:15 veteran solo/acoustic performer Doug MacLeod brings his songwriting expertise, guitar mastery and soulful vocals to the stage. Appearing on 18 albums as well as writing a column for Blues Review magazine, MacLeod has not only lived the life from a musical viewpoint but also documented the history of this prolific genre.
Gospel inspired blues singer CeCe Teneal will take the stage at 3:45 p.m. Teneal’s silky smooth vocals provide an appealing mask for the true power and passion within her heart. With interesting originals and adaptations of some time-tested standards, Teneal’s songs are bound to please the vocal enthusiast as well as the fan of pure gospel based blues.
Hamilton Loomis tears it up!
“If blues, soul, and rock can be said to form a triangle, you’ll find Hamilton Loomis right in the center of it”, says Guitar Player Magazine. At 8 p.m. Loomis and his five piece band get ready to tear the roof off the sucker. The Texas native and his band recently were labeled “a blues-rock-funk-groove-soul band,” by the Houston Chronicle.
What this means for the festival goer? A second night of high energy music which touches the total spectrum of American music in general, or otherwise, something for everybody to dig! But Loomis is more than just industry magazine or newspaper quotes, as a youngster at age 16 he was able to jam with his idol turned mentor Bo Diddley. But don’t just take it from me, the late great Diddley summed up Loomis’ talents as follows, ““You got to put some seasonin’ in what you’re doin’, and this boy’s got the whole salt shaker!”
As if the place won’t be already rocking enough, the finishing roundhouse blow to this undisputed heavyweight blues rockin’ festival will be the unique collaboration of musicians known as Southern Hospitality, which take the stage at 10 p.m. This six piece band from Florida features three versatile and dynamic modern blues performers … all in one band!
Members include Blind Pig recording artist Damon Fowler, fellow guitarist/vocalist JP Soars and piano player extraordinaire/vocalist Victor Wainwright, who came together for an impromptu finale jam one evening after a festival performance, which featured each of their individual bands in the lineup, and the rest is history.
Southern Hospitality kicks out the jams!
Interestingly Southern Hospitality’s first official show was opening for Buddy Guy at the Heritage Music Blues Fest in Wheeling, WV. From there the group has entertained crowds with rockin’ boogie-woogie blues; with each of the three bluesmen getting to showcase their skillset in the blues genre while a top notch rhythm section holds down the groove. Folks here’s your chance to remove “Damn I wish I would’ve gone” from your next week’s vocabulary!
But there have been a few musical events stand the test of time in our region in recent years. Tonight area music fans will have the opportunity to enjoy one such event. The 21st Annual Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society’s Blues Festival kicks off this evening at the historic Hotel Lafayette in downtown Marietta. Tonight’s 8 p.m. show will feature two high energy bands guaranteed to get your feet moving.
Mikey Jr. & the Stone Cold Blues will get the party started Friday evening with their brand of high energy blues. Hailing from the greater Philadelphia region, Mikey Jr. has built a reputation has one of the hottest harp players around. Mikey Jr. has been drawing comparisons to some legendary harp masters such a Little Walter and Sonny Boy and when teamed with guitar, bass and drums is sure to provide a rollicking even of contemporary blues fun.
Headlining the Friday evening show will be the Lionel Young Band, winners of the 2011 International Blues Competition Band category. Like most great blues bands, the Lionel Young Band has roots which extend throughout the legendary blues family tree. Young, winner of the 2008 International Blues Challenge Solo/Duo competition has jammed with the likes of Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Elvin Bishop, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Tab Benoit, Chris Cain and Bob Margolin just to name a few.
Young is backed by Andre Mali on trumpet, Dexter Payne on sax, clarinet and harp, Ricardo Pena on piano, organ and vocals, Kim Stone on bass and Jay Forrest on drums. Collectively this band is ready for any style of blues anytime anyplace. The bands resume would fill up another page of music who’s who’s!
But ones ears and eyes are the best judges of all and the Lionel young Band has been winning people over whether it’s crisscrossing the U.S. or hitting the high seas as part of a Blues Cruise. With smooth vocals and a powerful sound the Lionel Young Band will impress and still have room to through in a few tricks for the party!
Its Friday night ya’ll know you deserve a good time and there’s no better place to start than the BJFMs Blues Festival baby!
“No matter what your talent level, there has to be something a little unsettling about presenting your skills onstage and being judged among your peers. And when one looks at the scope of performances at the recent 20th Annual Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society’s Blues Competition, it would appear that solo performers have a daunting task indeed. Gary Applegate (www.garyapplegate.com) of Indianapolis, IN met that challenge head on during his performances last Saturday.
While bands competing in the contest certainly have an advantage of a fuller sound and a livelier stage, Applegate utilized a few talents of his own as well. The competition witnessed four solo acts over its two day run with two of those performers advancing to the final round on Saturday evening and a third just barely missing out.
What is it that gave Applegate and Elyria, OH’s Luther “LT” Trammell a ticket to the finals? Several factors come into play for the solo contestant, with two obviously enormous ones being instrumental and vocal talent. When the solo performer walks onto the stage, they are essentially walking on to a blank canvas ready to be painted by their musical talents. Sure full bands will paint their own portrait as well, but often times the same full sound that bands attempt to achieve may also create a less defined vision of the combined talents being presented.
In the competition, blues content is the heaviest weighted scoring category, meaning that all the contestants are assessed a number between one and ten by the judges and then their score is multiplied by a value of four to achieve an acts “blues content” score. While bands may sometimes have the tendency to stray into other musical genres during their performances, the solo artist can strip their presentation down to the essential old school fundamentals of the blues themselves.
While just literally singing the blues may be grandfather of all blues music, one can easily imagine that an acoustic guitar and a harmonica are not too far down that family tree. But while Trammell presented a more traditional performance, Applegate wowed the fans and judges with a little bit of technical know-how to go along with his obvious talent.
“I’ll be playing all the sounds you hear live,” Applegate said to the standing room only crowd before beginning his twenty minute set. Armed not only the traditional acoustic guitar and harmonica instrumentation, Applegate also uses a unique style which allows him to incorporate a bass line and a kick drum sound … all being played by him live!
Through a little modern technology (no more than your average electric or bass guitar player uses in foot pedals or amplifiers), Applegate transforms his two lower strings in the E and A positions, into the bass line and splits the signal to a bass amp onstage. On the floor, Applegate’s right foot becomes a metronome/kick drum which is amplified as well. So far there are two tracks being played … are you following?
The other four guitar strings are played as rhythm and lead during the performance … now there’s three tracks. Next throw in vocals or an occasional blast of harmonica, and yes that right, Applegate is essentially keeping four separate tracks under control at one time! All of which are being played live.
Now it is easy to discuss Applegate’s interesting set up, but ultimately it still boils down to the performer being able to exude the power and emotion on which the blues have relied for hundreds of years. There has to be a felt personal connection between the crowd and the performer, with the artist holding the keys to unlock those emotions.
In a bittersweet manor, Applegate explained the story behind his original song, “Damn It! I’m Lonely” and that sometimes elusive connection was established. It was inspired by his loss of a loved to cancer at far too early of an age.
In years past the BJFMS would award a sponsorship to both a band category and a solo performer, but that was changed a few years back. Luckily for Applegate, the BJFMS came up with an interesting guideline concerning sponsorships of solo performers.
Within the finals of the blues competition, if a solo performer places in the top three spots, he or she will be awarded a sponsorship by the society to the International Blues Challenge. Applegate will be busy in home state of Indiana, before returning on July 6th for the 18th Annual Red, White & Blues Festival in Marietta.
The Tee Dee Young Band, winners of the 20th Annual BJFMS Blues Competition, are presented the first place plaque by "Cobbler John" Bolen.
From the opening blast of “I Got to Move,” blues fans knew the party was on! As The Tee Dee Young Band launched into the last set of the Saturday evening finals round, the capacity crowd at the 20th Annual Blues, Jazz, Folk Music Society’s Blues Competition was only left to wonder who would place second and third. With the win, The Tee Dee Young Band will represent the BJFMS at the International Blues Challenge (www.blues.org) held in Memphis, TN.
Young took control of the stage with his incendiary guitar playing, as his four piece band created a wall of sound as wide as the mighty Ohio River. The Lexington, KY based guitar slinger gave the audience a full helping of both hot and mild guitar licks from his trusty Parker Fly.
When the stage wasn’t smoking from Young’s guitar work, saxophonist Dan Jackson helped keep the groove smoldering with his down and dirty baritone sound. Along with keyboardist Bruce Smith, the two created some monster tones, allowing Young to concentrate on delivering his powerful blues vocals when not tearing up a guitar solo.
Bassist Billy Linton and drummer Gus Johnson provided an absolutely rock solid foundation for the bands five original songs. The band transitioned flawlessly from one song to another, as the audience tried to find an opening for applause during their clockwork set.
The Tee Dee Young Band will make a return trip to Marietta on March 17th to play at 1 p.m. during the afternoon session of the BJFM Blues Festival. The festival promises to be yet another sell out at the Hotel Lafayette, and one of the biggest days of music in the Mid Ohio Valley. For more info go to www.bjfm.org.
Columbus, Ohio’s Mojo Theory placed second in the competition. The five piece hard rockin’ blues group powered through five original compositions on Friday and Saturday evening. Vocalist Mark Richards kept the crowd enthralled as he wove his lyrical stories.
Guitarist David Wamock offered up some red hot guitar playing while Richards spurred him on from a few feet away. Keyboardist Jeff Morris, bassist Curt CJ Justus and hard hitting drummer Todd Mollette helped conjure up some huge mojo sound.
The 20th annual BJFMS blues competition will kick off Friday night at 8 p.m. at the Hotel Lafayette ballroom in Marietta. The Friday evening preliminary round will feature five performances from regional contestants. At the end of this round, two winners will move on to the Saturday night finals.
This event is always one of the busiest events of the year, and fans are advised to get to the ballroom an hour early for good seats. The list of contestants performing on Friday evening is as follows.
Friday, February 17 First Preliminary
8-8:20 pm Silverhorse (4 pc. Band) Marietta OH
8:30-8:50 Chaz Humley and the Effects (4 pc. Band) Teays Valley WV
9-9:20 Big Al & The Capital City Players (4 pc. Band) Columbus OH
9:30-9:50 Scott Horn (Solo) Akron OH
10-10:20 Mojo Theory (5 pc. Band) Columbus OH
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