Last Few Weeks

I have unintentionally let a few weeks lag since my last post, so sorry.  We've been so busy and the building of our house has been occupying my mind.  And it is coming right along, Yeah!  Since my last post, we have played several shows, in Cooper, in Oklahoma City, and last night in Commerce.

Cooper, Texas is always fun for us to play, because it so near our old stomping grounds, Birthright.  We have a core following who come out to hear us, some of whom are the earliest fans of BBP, having heard the original band back in 2006 when we briefly had a guitar shop there in Cooper and regularly played on the pavilion.  If you haven't seen the Cooper square and the pavilion, you should check it out....it is my favorite small town Texas square.

The trip to Oklahoma City to play at the IBC Qualifier was a blast!  We didn't win, but we represented Texas well.  The winning group was just awesome, it had a horn section, a great rhythm section, and a really dynamic lead vocalist.  We did, however, get some great feedback, both from the audience and from one of the judges....so needless to say, we'll keep plugging away, doing what we do!  That was surely a long day and night, we drove in and out in the same day, leaving here around 1:30 pm Saturday and getting home around 4:00 am Sunday.  Good bonding for the group, haha.  Paying dues, don't ya know.

Last night, we played a couple of sets at a private party in Commerce.  We had a really nice time and there was a great sax player who sat in with us, and he really added a lot to our sound.  Hopefully we'll get together with him again and jam some more....I love good sax playing in the blues (just thinking about Gatemouth Brown's sax player makes me want to hear some more).  The food and the company last night were great, too.

In addition to our shows, Jack and I have been playing a lot in the Juke with the kids, they are at the age where they are looking forward to family jam time, which ROCKS!  D is 15 and has been rocking the drums, and W is 10 and is working on guitar, drums, and most especially singing.  He has been getting up at our family friendly shows and singing a song, it is so cool to watch.  It won't be long, he'll be a force to be reckoned with.  Raising the kids with the blues is a blessing for Jack and me, it is so much fun.  Eventually, who knows....maybe a family band will hit the road for a summer or something.  That would be cool.

We've also been working on some new songs and have a couple of new ones in the can....recorded and ready for the next album, although there is no release date scheduled yet....but if you make a show you are sure to hear one.  Until then, we have this summer's release, the live album recorded at Texas A&M Commerce, still available.  Our next show is this coming Friday, a duo set at Princeton's Blue Armadillo Winery, hope to see y'all there.

Voodoo Woman

Angry Woman Blues

Track 20

Send Her Back

Youtube Channel BirthrightBlues

Well, we've been home for two weeks and I am happy to say I have finally gotten all of the videos up from the Rising Biscuit Stage at the King Biscuit Blues Festival.  I had originally thought I would also include a couple of videos of us Buskin' on Cherry Street with Evan Hawk and "Canadian" Dave Gold, but the songs are not originals and it just doesn't feel right to put them up....I may edit them into some quick solo clips and put them up that way, but I'm not sure at this time.  I hope you enjoy the videos!

Chiggerfest and Java Joint Guitar Pull, 10/15/11

Yesterday the Birthright Blues Project played in Cooper, Texas at Chiggerfest.  We left our forest around 10:30 am and got  back to it around midnight.  We unloaded our gear at the Java Joint in Cooper and then carried it over to the stage before our friend and fellow musician, Shaun Michaels' set.  The time schedule got rearranged slightly because Shaun had been booked to follow us, and he wanted to open for us.  So we all set up the stage before Shaun's set, which gave us more playing time because we were ready to go when Shaun left the stage.  We played a good set and the crowd (which seemed to mostly congregate in the shade) seemed to enjoy the show.  Then the kids headed to a friend's house to chill out while Jack had to wait to sit in on two songs with Johnny C Lately, so I just sat in the shade since I got sunburned while on stage.  Most of the crowd had dispersed but Jack did what he does and ripped out some amazing leads.

Then we headed to our friends' house, thanks Carrie and Al, and hooked up with the kids.  They were content, fed and occupied with video games/ computer, so the adults played a little 5 card draw to burn some time until it was time to head back up to the square.  Carrie fed us a homecooked meal and we headed down the road.  We stopped by Cliff and Julie's, where they had just pulled shishkbobs off the grill, so we of course had to eat a little more.  Then Jack borrowed an acoustic/electric guitar from Cliff and we headed to the Java Joint.

We love playing at the Java Joint, and last night was a first time special event.  Jack and Shaun were joined by songwriters "Johnny C Lately" (Woodrow Thomas) and Mark Clark.  The four sat on stage with their acoustics and rotated turns singing and playing original songs.  It was a really good show with a lot of great music, different genres, topics, but all good.  I enjoyed sitting down with my friends singing along to the songs we knew by Jack and Shaun.  Then after the show, Jack had to get a little electric playing in, so I got out my bass and he played our following (by then they were still hanging around and the rest had pretty much left) a brand new song written for him by Dave Mason called 103 Degrees in Texas and Wade got up and howled Hoochie Coochie Man.  It was great!  We'll be back at the Java Joint on the 29th of October playing as a band.

Mississippi River

Hard Times

Longview, TX Player's Club to C & C Guitars, Paris, TX

Whew, we're home and unloaded!  I finally got home around 6:15 this evening although I dropped Jack off at about a quarter to six on the road while I went to pick up our daughter at dance.  And I made it there before I was supposed to, so even though we've spent the last 24 hours on the road, I was where I needed to be when I needed to be there.  Thank God for my Dad, because we couldn't have done the last week without his help.  After a couple of beers with Dad and dinner with the kids, we unloaded the truck into the Juke under the light of a beautiful moon starting to rise.  We played the Texas Players Club last night in Longview, which is a hell of a drive from here.  Thankfully, my bestie lives in Gladewater on the banks of the Sabine, so we had a nearby place to spend the night.
The Texas Players Club in Longview, Texas is a typical Texas nightclub.  We played on a Wednesday night and didn't know what kind of crowd would attend, but we were pleasantly surprised.  They had a decent crowd of regulars and there were tables that we drew in, so the club, while not full, was crowded.  And when we were finished for the night and outside cooling off, several groups told us how much they enjoyed what we played, and that's always nice.  Of course, nothing can quite compare with last week's experience.  We jammed out for a while, drank a few beers, and headed for Sam and Doreen's.  There was an assortment of eats waiting on us, and a bed for Jack and I and a couch for the drummer.  After waking up for the check in call with the kiddos, we slept in a while and headed to Chicken E for breakfast.  Doreen has her store looking great and I guarantee it is the cleanest fast food joint in Texas, and she fed us and we visited with her and Sam (a Birthright Blues Project co-writer) before we headed from the Louisiana Line to the Oklahoma Line to see our guitar man, Jack, at C & C guitars.  Jack played a 67 Sunburst 335 thru a Fender Superreverb as I drooled over the  68 Mustang Bass, and there was and amazing 330t with a single p90 mounted in the middle, 1960 model with case candy.  The vintage man, Jack Crabb, reach him at 903-737-9960.  Tell Jack Jack sent ya.  The two Jacks rewired an American Stratocaster and I left with a Boss Bass Overdrive Pedal :) Then we headed back to Celeste and our forest.  I am ever so glad to be home with a few days to rest before ChiggerFest in Cooper, Texas, where I know I'll get to visit with a lot of friends and play in front of our "following", those guys and gals who have supported the BBP since the beginning.  And I've got something for them, too :)

My Pretty Baby

Lightning.AVI

Pictures on the Rising Biscuit Stage

Special thanks to Marie Gold for taking these pictures.  ©2011 RMGold rmgoldphoto@gmail.com

King Biscuit Blues Festival, Saturday and Sunday

The Birthright Blues Project is on the road headed back to Texas from the King Biscuit Blues Festival.  We had an amazing time this year and look forward to returning to Helena, Arkansas next year for the 27th Annual King Biscuit Blues Festival.

Saturday morning we got a slow start, but were out on the street Buskin with young blues musician (and future blues great) Evan Hawk.  "Canadian" Dave Gold also sat in with us.  Evan's buskin spot was on the block with the RoadKill Cafe, and we played a set for the passing crowd before we had to head down Cherry Street to catch Dave Reilly's set.  Special thanks to Dave and Marie for sitting with our gear while we suppported our friend.  Dave's set was really special for us.  Not only was it my first time to see him performing, but when we got there, just a few minutes into his set, Dave kept calling out to Jack, saying "Diamond," repeatedly to let us know seats were set up for us in the front.  After Jack headed down the aisle to grab one of these best seats in the house, Dave did a piece of his song "Overhauls," which we have permission to play and record.  At the end of a great set, my favorite being his remade version of "JellyRoll Kings," he gave me the guitar pick he played the set with to take home for Wade.  He is such a nice, positive musician, I look forward to introducing our son to him.

After Dave's set, we headed back down Cherry Street and Busked for the rest of the day.  We were accompanied for a couple of songs by a harmonica player and a flute player, and we really had a fun jam on Cherry Street.  The vendors nearby really enjoyed the set and were as impressed with young Evan's guitar playing as we were.  We met Evan and his granddad last year when he asked to sit in with us at our buskin spot, and this year he came to Helena knowing quite a bit of Jack's music and ready to play with us, and we all had a great time.  This year we had a lot of fun, too.  Jack left it to Evan to lead the band, and he did really well.  We played until almost dark, and then took our gear back to Bunky's and headed down to the Main Stage to catch the Stax Revue and Keb Mo.  Artist Access is amazing and we were able to get really close to the stage.  Both shows were fantastic, and Keb Mo gave an excellent closing to this year's Biscuit.  JB, a friend from northern Arkansas Jack met in 2009, had asked us to try to get him a guitar pick from Keb Mo, so as he headed for his bus I asked for a pick, and HE GAVE ME ONE OUT OF HIS POCKET!!!  I gave it to Jack so he could give it to JB, who said that this was the best festival ever (he got picks from Buddy Guy, Tommy Castro, and Keb Mo).  

Upon returning to camp and rehashing the day's events with Loren and Jen; Jack, Mark, and I headed down to the campfires to visit with friends for the last night.  We stayed up once again until well after 3 am, and then got up this morning and said our goodbyes to our Biscuit "family."  There are so many wonderfully kind people who camp in Tent City, including the folks from the Baton Rouge Blues Society, who were so hospitable last year that I have been looking forward to seeing them again since last year.  Hopefully, the BBP will book some shows in their area before the next Biscuit, but even if we do not, we know it will be a joyfully reunion when we all gather together in Tent City next year.  Dave Reilly and Mose Taylor stopped by camp to say goodbye to us and we had a nice conversation before they headed to play at Hobson Plantation for the Pinetop's Memorial Homecoming, Dave giving me pointers until they left.  Which is pretty awesome, a sure 'nuff Mississippi Bluesman coming to our camp and giving me advice!  The Magic of the Biscuit!  Can't wait to return next year.

King Biscuit Blues Festival, Friday

The Birthright Blues Project played on the Rising Biscuit Stage last night as part of the King Biscuit Blues Festival.  We went on stage and did our thing, playing original Texas Blues.  We led the show with Mississippi River, and followed it with a 45 minute selection of our music, ending up with Angry Woman on the slide guitar.  I do not recall the order (although I will when we see the videos, I think there were 3 different videos taken last night by friends in our following).  Look for them soon here, on the website.  Also, our photographer, Marie Gold took pictures, they will be up soon as well.

What I do know is that everyone we talked to after the set said it sounded great, and I know it sounded great up under the lights (the monitor mix was just right in my monitor).  And when I came down off the stage, I was greeted by a couple of other musicians who play in the blues scene, Mose Taylor and Dave Reilly, and they gave us great feedback, as did everyone who came back to Bunky's afterward.

We followed our set with one more Bunky's Late Night Jam.  Jack was joined on the Bunky's stage by Evan Hawk,  Mose Taylor, John, Jordan, Steve, and Hairy Larry (as well as others whom I didn't catch their names).    Then, Jack and I walked on down to "Baton Rouge" and "Missouri" a couple of friendly campfires to the west of our campsite, where we visited with old friends and made some new friends.

I am sure a lot of other things happened yesterday as well, but they do not come to mind at the moment..  I do know that we enjoyed seeing Spoonman and the Spoonfed Blues, which included Mose, Darcy, and Terry, as well as catching a set by Phillip Stackhouse.   Pictures of yesteday will be up as soon as possible.  I am looking forward to today where we will be buskin on the street with young Evan Hawk, and after dark we will be catching Keb' Mo on the main stage.  And today, we won't miss Dave Reilly's set, although that will likely be the only set we watch during daylight.

This festival is such an amazing time!  We were just talking as a band, along with a camping friend who has been to more festivals here than us, about how once someone comes to this festival, it becomes a yearly thing thing for them, and everyone generally looks forward to it all year long.

King Biscuit Blues Festival, Thursday

The King Biscuit Blues Festival officially kicked off yesterday.  As seems to be the case of the Biscuit, each day tops the last.  

Jack and I started out yesterday morning with our first time to take the "path to the left," the levy walk.  It was a beautiful stroll about 8:30 am, and we ended up by the main stage.  We were out so early so I could win a tshirt by proclaiming "It's Biscuit Time" to the right person at the right time.  I found her before anyone else, and was given my tshirt.  Since you never get a yes answer to the question you don't ask, I went ahead and asked her about the availability for armbands for the band.  I really wanted to see Buddy Guy, so I had to find some way.....she pointed me in the right direction of who to ask.   I asked, and received!  So, we were able to see both James Cotton and Buddy Guy.  From Backstage! Artist Access!  It was truly amazing to get to be so close to the great bluesmen who I have never seen in a live performance but have watched so many times on video.  Both passed right by me, within arms reach!   

Buddy Guy gave the best performance I have seen live out of any artist last night, it was simply amazing to be able to watch him, up close and personal.  The guitar ripping, crowd walking, and displaying the skills he claimed he "stole" from those artists who went before him was amazing.  I mean, he broke out all the tricks, playing with his teeth, shirt, towel, and ass!  Then he went on acoustic and showed us how it was done.  At the conclusion I gave him a "we're not worthy" bow (wayne's world style), and HE GRABBED MY HANDS!  Then he reached out and shook Jack's hand and then got into his limo.

After that, we returned to camp.  We spent some time with Loren and Jennifer at camp, then went camp walking.  We, of course, started out with the Baton Rouge Blues Society, who fed us hungry musicians.  Then we crossed the road to visit a couple of campfires we had been invited to, but the fellows who invited us were already crashed out for the night, but there was a little picking going on.  Harry Gold and Hairy Larry and Jack played quite a few together and then we wandered on back over to the north side of the road to Les Lindy's campfire.  He played with John and Jordan on guitars, and Malcolm on harp, and we made more friends.  After 4 am, we headed back to camp, and started today around 9 am.  Tonight is the big night!!!!!

King Biscuit Blues Festival, Wednesday Night Jam

Wednesday in Helena, Arkansas was, of course, amazing.  The theme of our day was the anticipation of the night's jam.  We were scheduled to start our jam around 8 or 8:30, but when young blues musician Evan Hawks walked up around 6:30, Jack and he started playing immediately.  It was really a treat to hear how Evan has advanced in the last year, he was awesome last year, and after spending a year jamming with professionals every chance he got, he is even better.  His granddad had even written a song with Jack in mind, y'all will hear it soon because we're recording it when we get back to Texas.  It is super timely, about our Texas drought.  After a few songs, I was pulled up and the three of us jammed together as folks rolled in.

By 8, we had quite a crowd, and by 9, the tables were full.  There were a lot of great musicians who came and played, as well as stayed a while and listened to the other jammers.  Dave Reilly came and stayed for the whole jam but didn't play at all last night, but Bob Corritore jammed with the BBP on Hard Times, as well as played with my favorite of the night, C.W. Gatlin.   Rock-a-billy hall of famer, the lead guitar player for Conway Twitty back in the day.  And even better than such a notable musician showing up and jamming, he opened his set with one of my all time favorites, "Sitting here wondering will a Matchbox hold my clothes!"   I think originally this song traces all the way back to the beginning of the blues and Blind Lemon Jefferson.  I have enjoyed many versions of this song, but seeing CW play it last night is now my all time favorite performance of it....so much better than just on youtube.

Other musicians who jammed last night included Mark Chapman, Les Lindy, Bruce Zimmerman, Mose Taylor, Cody Taylor, and Darcy, Harry Gold, Kelly Raney, Tommy Ray Gatlin, Loren Seely, and others to whom I apologize for not remembering their names.  It was so much fun.

This blog comes from a beautiful courtyard in the 400 block of Cherry Street, with the background music of Bunky's breakfast players who are jamming on the street since Bunky's isn't having breakfast this year.  Too beautiful for words here....more later.

First day in Helena, AR for King Biscuit Blues Festival 2011

Whew, what a day we had yesterday.  I know I was supposed to blog last night when we hit camp, but I figured after 24 hours awake, this could hold until today.

The Birthright Blues Project, along with Loren Seely, our producer and his daughter Jennifer Scheffler, left Sulphur Springs, Texas around 4:30 am Tuesday.  We hit Helena, Arkansas around 11:30, without any serious mishaps except that Mark and Jack got lost in Texarkana.  HaHa, they followed a similar truck to Jen's right off the interstate and around some construction, but caught up with us at a rest stop shortly into Arkansas half an hour later.

As is our tradition, after arriving in Helena, we immediately went to the Delta Cultural Center, where we visited with Sunshine Sonny Payne and Jack appeared on the King Biscuit Time radio show.  Track 20 (Morning Sun)  from the new LIVE album was the song played, and we got a chance to publicize our appearance on the Rising Biscuit Stage Friday night.

After the radio show and a quick lunch, we set up camp in Tent City, USA.  While relaxing after "home" was completed, Dave Riley, internationally known blues performer who you can learn more about at this website, http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/musicians/dave-riley.html, stopped by the camp and visited with us.  He has been a longtime friend of Loren and Jen, and Jack played with him in 2009 when he came to the festival without me, but this was our first meeting.  As I was told I would, I immediately loved Dave, he is such a positive person and he and Jack are so much alike!  We all went to dinner and had some great food and even better conversation.  Dave has so much experience as a blues musician, and he is one of the better kinds of musicians, the kind that is willing to share his knowledge, not the type who treats all other musicians as the enemy.

After dinner, we went to a "Jam" at Blues Bayou and played 4 songs.  The house drummer didn't show up, so Mark willingly jumped onto the drums and jammed for a couple of hours.  But then, they charged him for his beer, so that really sucked and was, IMHO, classless.  But we enjoyed the music, of course, and even got a chance to check out one of the competitors for the Rising Biscuit stage, a great piano player that made me figure too bad Jack's not gonna break out any piano tunes on the stage.

After the jam and a conversation with a blues harp player and club owner in Phoenix, Bob Corritore, we headed back to camp.  But, of course, our night was still young.  The three of us headed down to join the campfire circle of the Baton Rouge Blues Society, where Jack played acoustic and we chowed down on some great pulled pork and drank beer and visited.  It's funny how you make such great friends when you only see each other once a year, but that's how the biscuit works!

This morning, we were all having coffee by nine and around ten headed down to Bunky's.  Unfortunately, in the offseason in Helena, some thugs broke the glass front and broke into Bertha's place.  They ripped her off, just helping themselves to whatever they wanted, and made a mess of the place.  Cleanup and repair are in progress, from which I'm currently slacking but am fixing to get back to, but tonight's jam is still on, because as we all know, you just can't stop the blues.  Be sure to check back in to read about what a great time we'll have, as we know we have notable musicians planning to come play with us tonight.  I'll try to get some pictures on tomorrow.

King Biscuit Blues Festival Packing List

The Birthright Blues Project is off to the King Biscuit Blues Festival to play on the Rising Biscuit Stage as well as host a blues jam at Bunky's on Cherry Street.  Thought I'd share my packing list of items we'll be carrying to the festival. This list is by no means exhaustive, although I hope we didn't forget too many items.  We carry everything to gig with and camp for 5 days, but don't do any campsite cooking, although it is allowed.  Friends at another camp generally let us grab a bite before bed at their campfire, and it's great Louisiana Cooking, and otherwise we eat on Cherry Street.  Thankfully, I am pretty certain that the items I've forgotten, my camping sister who has a few more festivals under her belt will have remembered.

A picture of last year's campsite at the King Biscuit Blues Festival

Gear:  Guitars, player, backup, slide, acoustic; Bass and backup; Amps; Bass Cabinet and Head; Reverb Tank; PA system, speakers, stand, table; Microphones and stands; cables; set list; gig clothes (drummer carries his drums) , copies of our newest cd, business cards.   This stuff is the important stuff for us, the rest is extra!

Camp:  Tent, sleeping bags, pillows, pjs, clean clothes for each day, lots of clean socks, extra pairs of shoes, toiletries--toothpaste/brush, soap, shampoo, cream rinse, towels (for cold camp showers), deodorant, sunblock; rain gear; flashlight, camp chairs

Camera, Green Canteen (refillable water bottle) , beverages of choice, laptop and charger, cell phone and charger, wireless internet and charger (for late night blogging).

And that's about it, hopefully I didn't forget too many items.  Luckily, if I did, I know Walmart isn't too far and we're likely to stop by there at least once during the week.

Next post, we'll be temporary residents of Tent City, USA beside the Mississippi River in Helena, Arkansas, home of the King Biscuit Blues Festival.

Java Joint September 30

Tonight the Birthright Blues Project played at the Java Joint in Cooper, Texas.  We had a really good time gathering with our core following before we head out next week to Helena, AR to play at the King Biscuit Blues Festival.  Although tonight we took more breaks than usual to visit with the crowd, we still played the songs from the set we'll be doing on the Rising Biscuit Stage next Friday, as well as an assortment of our other tunes, one of Jack's newest, and a few covers.  What would a blues concert be without Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Albert King, and Robert Johnson?  Our ten year old son got up and sang Me and the Devil by Robert Johnson, he really gets into RJ's blues....he's surely a future blues man.  And of course, we had to jam on some Hank III and Hendrix!
Word is steadily getting out about what we're doing, there were a lot of new faces in the crowd (and we all know they had to come from out of town, we know everyone in Cooper, I think). One of them even had fresh ink by my favorite tattoo artist, Josh Painter at Texas Tattoos and Art Gallery in Greenville.
Cooper really has a happening scene, when you consider it's north east Texas nowhere.  That little Texas town is one of my favorite ones to visit, it has such a cute, old style brick square, but make sure you keep an eye out for those Delta Co. Deputies!   We also noticed a few faces in the crowd who we haven't seen in a while, which is always nice.....we had a great time in Cooper tonight and are ready and raring to go for next week.  Although it might be a little hard on the drummer to head out so early Tuesday morning, but he'll make it and then we'll all be glad we did once we're on Delta Time.
Delta time, where everyone and everything slows down to a relaxed, easygoing pace.  I can't wait.

Blue Armadillo Winery, Princeton, 9/24/11

Last night the Birthright Blues Project played the Blue Armadillo Winery in Princeton, Texas.  In spite of the beautiful weather, or perhaps because of it, fewer folks than usual came out, but that of course resulted in a chance for more one on one time getting to know our audience during breaks. It is always fun and exciting to meet new people, play a show for them, and then get to know them over time at future shows.  Since playing shows is what we do most often and most enjoy, that is exactly how we have formed some of our tighter friendships of the past several years, and will continue to do so, because we see our audiences and following way more often than we visit with other friends (we're quite family oriented when we're not working, not really party animals here).

With the King Biscuit Blues Festival right around the corner (Columbus Day Weekend, we're out there for the week), Jack has been touching base with our friends we meet in Tent City and the local musicians.  One of these folks, a biker Jack particularly feels a kinship with, told him this morning that when he was out one night talking music with some other people, one of our CDs was played for him...."You've gotta hear this!"  Of course, our friend told them he knew who it was.....and hopefully they'll ALL be at the Biscuit to see us this year!  Plans are hitting town on Tuesday and becoming early residents of Tent City, North Side, Helena, AR; Free Blues Jam at Bunkies hosted by BBP on Wednesday; Practicing, Busking, and seeing Buddy Guy in Concert on Thursday; Rising Biscuit Stage on Friday, 7 pm; and then buskin our hearts out all day Saturday. 

The crowd response last year to what we are doing with our original music more than makes up for all the small crowds that we play for here in N/E Texas.  But, if we have to build our audiences like we did last night, playing as if we have a crowd until the folks down the road come see what's going on, and building our fan base by adding a few at each show, then it'll still build!  I firmly believe Jack's music is going to be a HUGE part of our future, he is just too good and too committed to it for it not to pay off for him.  Every crowd, even small ones, has a silver lining, and last night's was a potter, who quickly joined our fan base and sent us the following pictures of last night from her camera phone.   Thanks!

The more time we spend practicing, the more time Jack spends creating!  It seems like every afternoon this week he had to teach me a new rhythm, and they are really good songs!  One of them he has partly completed the lyrics on, and he's going to save the remainder of it to complete while we're playing on the street in Helena.  Another of them he and our ten year old son, Wade, are working out the lyrics together in the afternoons.  These songwriting sessions invariably lead to the guys singing and playing Robert Johnson songs, it is really a wonderful thing hearing my son progress along the musical highway!

Jack has always taken passing along his gift seriously, and has taught quite a few young men how to play, not only the blues, but also quite a bit of country and rock.  One of these is of course, our son, and another is young Jeff, the youngest member of our band.  He's also agreed to teach our niece how to play the piano, but since she's only 8, she has the attention of an 8 year old, so lessons are brief and basic, but I'll bet at some point we'll be able to put her and her cousin, Wade, on dueling pianos throwing that boogie woogie around!   Jack has always said he learned so much from others, he has to pass it down.

Tomorrow night we are playing another show at the Blue Armadillo Winery in Princeton, TX.  This winery has a very friendly atmosphere and a nice selection of frozen drinks, texas wines, coffees, sandwiches, and desserts.  It is casual with a flair, and has a really nice vibe going on in Princeton.  We'll most likely unveil one or two of Jack's new songs...come join us and be the first to hear them!  We go on, out on the patio, at around 8:30.  We're looking forward to another great gig in Princeton!

Some pictures, first of Jack and Jeff in Helena last year, then one of Jack with a 15 year old guitarist we met while in Helena last year, who we'll be hooking up with to jam again this year and another friend on bass, and finally, a picture of Wade working out that piano boogie.

Willie "Big Eyes" Smith

Unfortunately, another blues master has recently joined the Angel Band. 

Willie “Big Eyes” Smith died of a stroke at his home on September 16, 2011.  He  was born in Helena, Arkansas on January 19, 1936   and in 1954 began playing harmonica in the Chicago Blues Scene.  In the following years, he played music that revolutionized the blues, changing instruments and playing the drums on all of Muddy Waters’ Grammy winning albums. 

In more recent years, he played in the Legendary Blues Band, which included Pinetop Perkins, who also passed away earlier this year.  Wille “Big Eyes” Smith played harmonica and received a Grammy in 2010 for his work with Pinetop Perkins for Best Traditional Blues CD for Joined at the Hip with Telarc Records.

Willie “Big Eyes” Smith was scheduled to play the King Biscuit Blues Festival this October, as he has many times in the past.  He will be sorely missed, as will the other blues greats that also passed away this year, Honeyboy Edwards, Big Jack Johnson, and Willie’s most recent collaborator, pianist Pinetop Perkins. 

Thankfully, the world and the blues community have begun to recognize the greatness of these artists while they are still living, and the artists have been passing down their art to younger generations.  Willie “Big Eyes” Smith’s legacy will be continued by his son, “Beady Eyes” Smith.  Visit Willie “Big Eyes” Smith’s webpage for a more in depth biography, and Blues Blast to read an interview from June of this year, as well as a well written obituary.

RIP Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, you will be missed.

Princeton Blue Armadillo Winery Birthright Blues Project Pictures

Jack Holdsworth

Birthright Blues Project, the trio

Jack on Lead Guitar and Vocals

Elan on Bass and Mark on Drums

A special thanks to Al Pierce for making the trip to Princeton from Cooper, TX and taking these pictures!  Al is available for freelance work, email him via the link on our webpage. 

Blue Armadillo Winery, Princeton, TX, 9/10/11

Last night, the Birthright Blues Project played a show at the Blue Armadillo Winery in Princeton, Texas.  We arrived a bit early to set up, and ended up playing a set before we were scheduled to go on, and then played until 11, it was a fun gig with three different crowds that waved in and out throughout the night.

We were fortunate to have the 5th Street Band sit in during our breaks, keeping live music going all night, while we enjoyed visiting on the patio.  If you haven't been to Princeton's winery, you should.  There is really a great vibe going on in Princeton and we look forward to playing there again.  We'll be there on the 24th of this month.

Special thanks go out to the folks who came out to see us from Cooper--it wouldn't be near as much fun without some of "our" crowd, and the family members who rode in on the Harley from Arlington, it was great to see y'all!  It was nice seeing fellow musicians and friends and making new ones.  I look forward to next time.

This week, I'll be working on getting our webpage optimized for viewing on mobile devices so when a person takes a pic of our band code it will bring up the best possible interface so they can get to "know" us and see what we're about.  Getting ready for Helena, Arkansas and the King Biscuit Blues Festival....practicing, practicing, practicing.  We don't have a show scheduled for next Saturday night, although I'm hopeful that will change this week.   So if you need a band for Saturday night, keep us in mind...I'll post our schedule as always!

I'll put pictures of last night up ASAP!

Blue Armadillo Winery, Greenville, 9/3/11

Tonight the Birthright Blues Project played a show at the Blue Armadillo Winery on Lee Street in Greenville, Texas.
Just prior to our show, the historic downtown theater, The Texan, which has not been open since the 1970s, lit up the Marquee for the first time as a part of the renovations taking place.  This theater hopes to reopen in 2012.  It was neat to see the sign lit up, because I have seen the sign since I was a kid. 
We had a good turnout tonight,  over 30 folks came and heard the band.  We played three sets and got a good crowd response, especially for the third set (which was after we TURNED UP OUR AMPS).  We were fortunate to have our regulars who come see us at the Blue Armadillo, special friends Ann and Loren plus one,  and a couple who watched me grow up at school with their kids who I ran into at the sign lighting, plus an assortment of music fans who I didn't get the chance to meet.
 Since the venue is rather small, our drummer Mark brought a snare drum, a cymbal or two and an assortment of percussion instruments.  As usual, he jazzed up our blues in the way he does so well.  Then he really surprised me when during a stop in Send Her Back he broke out a kid's bike horn.  He usually has a special snare he hits for this part and it really cracked me up when he tooted his horn, but it sounded surprisingly just right!
The three of us had a really good time, and I enjoyed the chance to sit out a few songs while Loren took the stage on the bass and played, including one cover song that I just haven't got down quite right yet.  He also did some photographing and filming, which we'll post in the future. 
We want to say a great big Thank You to those who came out tonight, as well as Joe and Denise who ran the bar and kept the wine flowing.
Our next show is in Princeton, Texas, next Saturday night, September 10.  We'll be playing the patio helping to celebrate the Grand Re-Opening of the Renovated Princeton Main Street and look forward to a great night! 

Mississippi River, a song by BBP

On that Mississippi
That's where it happened on a cloudy night
On that Mississippi
That's where it happened on a cloudy night
A man took his own life
On the account of his Evil Wife

Well she gave it to him
Then she gave it to him again
Yeah she gave it to him
And then she gave it to him again
She's given him that poison
The one they call Heroin
Yeah Heroin

He soon was addicted
He could not put that needle down
Yeah he soon was an addict
He could not put that needle down
Until that cloudless night
The night my dearest brother drown.


Song written by Elan and Jack Holdsworth, ASCAP
Delta Blues House Publishing Company
copyright 2009          Birthright Blues Project

Why we play the blues.

Just a few words tonight on why we play the blues.  It all started, as so many good things start, with a front porch pickin' party in Birthright, TX.  Which is more of a community than a town, it does have road signs marking it's location, but no post office.
Anyway, one night a friend brought a newcomer to the pickin' at our house.  The sounds this man played intrigued both Jack and myself.  I was a beginning guitar picker at the time and they showed great patience with me, he began teaching me the age old rhythm by stomping his foot while he played.  Of course, Jack caught on immediately.  He says he was born with the boogie woogie, so that may be why it came so easily for him.  The newcomer, an old white man,  also told us how the music he played had come to him from his granddad who got it from his granddad.  A line of river rats, he called his family.  And man, could he play the blues.
Jack and I had each heard the blues, but neither of us had gotten into the musical form in depth.  The rhythms we learned that night stayed with us and started us on our own musical journey.....he gave us just enough spark to light our own torch.....It quickly became our "thing."  Another way we related together.  The whole family joined in our interest, we began to seek out local blues players and Jack would play with them while the rest of us absorbed their presence.  Now, we're ruined...not a day goes by without us playing the blues, watching blues greats on video, and our ten year old son walks around reciting blues lyrics, especially those by Robert Johnson.
We started creating our own blues songs inadvertently.  While watching that horrible sight of New Orleans flooded after Katrina and hearing stories of survivors, I wrote a poem in a journal and left it laying on the coffee table.  Jack's boy picked it up and said "Hey, who wrote this song?"  The next thing I knew, the guys had put Flood Waters to music, and we began writing songs together.  The rest is the history of our blues.

"Honeyboy" Edwards, RIP

Today the blues world was saddened by the loss of  David "Honeyboy" Edwards, one of the remaining blues greats.  He passed on in to Heaven to join the Angel Band in the early hours of this morning, August 29, 2011, at his home at the age of 96.  Born on June 28, 1915, Honeyboy Edwards was the real deal.  He played and travelled with Robert Johnson, and generously related his tales of RJ to avid blues audiences.  In 2010, he was awarded a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement.  In 2008, he was awarded a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album.  He also received many accolades from the Blues Foundation, including an award for Keeping the Blues Alive.  He will be missed by blues fans throughout the world.

New Song. New Video

This morning we found that a very dear friend and member of BBP (substitute bass player, current videographer, constant producer) had put up a new song and video by Diamond Jack and the Birthright Blues Project.  The song, Mr. Johnson, refers to blues great Big Jack Johnson, who passed away this year.  Jack Holdsworth was fortunate to meet Big Jack Johnson on his first trip to Helena, AR's Arkansas Blues and Heritage festival, which is once again known as the King Biscuit Blues Festival.  The rest of us didn't get to meet Big Jack, but we have watched every interview and video of him we can get our hands on, he really opens up on Mississippi Spoonman's DVD.  I'll do a brief history of Big Jack Johnson and the Jelly Roll Kings tonight!  Enjoy the video at our facebook page www.facebook.com/birthrightblues

First Blog Post

Hello!  Thanks for taking the time to view my blog.  This is where you can get insights into what the Texas Blues Band, Diamond Jack Holdsworth and the Birthright Blues Project.  I am Diamond Jack Holdsworth's wife, co-writer, and bass player.  I will be blogging about our shows, experiences, new material, and more.  I also intend to include some serious blues history as well as blues festival information.  Check in often, check out our web page at www.birthrightbluesproject.com , and go to our facebook page and give us a Like at www.facebook.com/birthrightblues