Birthright Blues Project
The Juke
Thursday, October 20, 2011
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!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
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 :)
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 :)
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Pictures on the Rising Biscuit Stage
Special thanks to Marie Gold for taking these pictures. ©2011 RMGold rmgoldphoto@gmail.com
Sunday, October 9, 2011
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.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, October 7, 2011
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!!!!!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, October 3, 2011
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.
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.
A picture of last year's campsite at the King Biscuit Blues Festival
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.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)