Fat Tuesday, 2010
Greetings Blues Fans,

Reminder about this great charity event:
Step out of the Winter Blahs and into the Winter Blues with “Winter Blues & BBQ” on February 27th, 2009 featuring Little Joe & Big Trouble and the Side Effects. BSO is sponsoring this very cool benefit for members of the Armed Services. Tickets on sale now – to purchase visit www.operationbbqmw.org

Here is a video to take your mind off of Winter and to remind you of one of Omaha’s absolutely best events, Omaha Summer Arts Festival:

Mark your calendar for June 25-27, for this year’s SAF. It is the week after Playing with Fire with Trombone Shorty and Carolyn Wonderland. Shorty was a riot at Summer Arts Fest last year, or was it the year before. I can’t keep the good times straight, but I know he was a ton of fun!

I finally made it to the Waiting Room to check out their re-model (and to enjoy a great show from Kris Lager Band). Both were very, very impressive. They removed the drop ceiling, so the room has a very open feel to it. I understand they are still going to add curtains to the sides of the stage, which should improve the sound. Great lighting, great stage, great sight lines. Omaha has another great venue.

Bob Corritorre writes:
“Etta James Health Update. This just in from the PerezHilton.com website; Etta James’ son Donto stated today that his mother’s condition is improving and doctors have been able to control the infections that led to her hositalization two weeks ago. Etta has been transferred to a medical center in a Los Angeles suburb. Donto has said that she is eager to get back to performing although it’s unknown when she’ll be released. Get well soon, Etta!”

RIP Dale Hawkins, August 23rd, 1936 – February 14th, 2010.
Rock & Roll Pioneer Dale Hawkins passed away in Little Rock, Arkansas on Feb 14th, after a battle with colon cancer. He was 73. Dale was best known for his 1957 classic “Susie Q”, which would later be covered by both the Rolling Stones and by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Dale’s band was a training ground for many amazing guitaists including James Burton, Scotty Moore, Joe Osborn, Roy Buchanan, Fred Carter, and Kenny Paulsen. Dale was inducted into both the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame, and the Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame. For more information on Dale Hawkins’ passing click here. For Dale’s website (which plays “Suzie Q” while you are checking it out!) click here, and for his discogrophy click here. Dale Hawkins’ “Suzie Q” will remain a timeless work of art.

RIP Lil’ Dave Thompson – May 21, 1969 – February 14th 2010.
It is with great sadness that we report that Mississippi blues guitarist Lil’ Dave Thompson died yesterday from an auto accident outside of Augusta, Georgia, while touring with his band. His van overturned and Dave was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead on the scene by the paramedics. Other members of the group were reportedly not seriously injured. Dave was born in Hinds County, Mississippi and was greatly influenced by musicians from that area. He made his first record for Fat Possum in 1995, and subsequently had two beautiful releases for Electro-Fi. In the last few years he had toured extensively as he built his career. He had developed into a spectacular singer and a fine, modern blues guitarist. For more details on Dave’s untimely death click here, and here. To see Dave Thompson’s website click here. Rest In peace Lil’ Dave.

(Dave’s agent and I had tried many times to find him a date in Omaha, but it never quite worked out. I regret we were never able to showcase this hard-working bluesman. As I have said many times, get out and get into it. You never know which show will the last, for you or the artist.)

Lots of choices for Fat Tuesday, which has become a huge bar night in Omaha in recent years
From our friends at The Zoo Bar:
Dear Zoo Fans,
Come have some hurricanes or other beverages of choice, with us tomorrow for Fat Tuesday. Son of 76 will play at 6pm and the Kris Lager band will follow at 10.
Hope to See You, The Zoo Bar

Devon Fulton writes:
Lesse Le Bon Temp Roulette!
Blind Dog Fulton celebrates Fat Tuesday at Dinker’s in Omaha from 8 to midnight. We’ll have some spicy guitar playin’ from Travis “the kid” Hagge and we’ll also have “THE” T-Roy Johnson aka the “Blind Burrito” on bass. Also, Lisa “Bob” Fulton on keys and Smilin’ Kurt Curtis on the drum. (Yes it’s just one drum if you think about it) … Devon will do some singing from the bottom of his diaphram too. (A skill that takes years to learn)

So get your Mardi Gras on and come out!

Josh Hoyer writes:
Hey guys- just wanted to drop a line to let you know we’re playing the ZOO this Tuesday for a Mardi Gras party. 6-9pm on Tues.Feb.16. $5 cover. Also- We are participating in a fundraiser for the Red Cross efforts in Haiti. Also playing: Mezcal Bros., Kris Lager, Strawberry Burns and South of Lincoln. This great show is this Friday at the Bourbon Theatre starting a 830pm. Here’s the facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=288409062423&ref=mf
Please invite all your friends and family! Thanks, and hope to see you at the shows! Josh

Dave Barger has put together quite a band for Fat Tuesday at The Upstream in the Old Market (Bucky McCann, Johnny Ray Gomez, Craig Balderston, & Gunner Gunnette). The Prairie Gators, the perfect band for Fat Tuesday with their mix of Zydeco & Cajun music, play from 3pm-6pm, then Dave Barger & Friends from 7p-11p.
Little Joe and Big Trouble are at Downtown Blues and Swampboy Blues Band plays The Good Times Bar in Louisville.

The Chicago Underground Duo will be performing in artist Sean Ward’s A Pre-Conscious at the Bemis (724 S. 12th) this Wednesday, February 17th at 8pm.

A truly unique event: How many opportunities will you have to see these two world-class, Chicago-based musicians play in a makeshift cave for $10?
Here is a link to video of a Chicago Underground Duo performance:

Here is a link to the event details and group bio:

http://www.bemiscenter.org/get_involved/index.html?req=calendar/event&eventUniqID=19025-0–&month=2&day=1&year=2010

Wednesday 2/17 at The Lift Lounge is Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights with Jason Ferguson opening the show at 9pm. (You will recognize Jason from his year’s as Sarah Benck’s hot guitarist. His original stuff is excellent.) JT&TNL won Dallas’ Best Blues Band, Best Band, and Best Vocalist this year. Similar to The Black Crowes, Tom Petty, and The Allman Brothers. I could definitely see this band getting too big to play bars in the near future. Catch them while you can. ($10) Here is a video promo of Jonathan Tyler: http://current.com/items/92030571_spotlight-jonathan-tyler-the-northern-lights.htm

2/18 Canadian Blues Angel Sue Foley returns for the Thursday Matinee at The Lift ($13). Here is a very cool link to a bunch of Sue Foley stuff. The Rolling Stone link has several songs.

http://www.last.fm/group/Blues+Artist+of+the+Week/forum/85588/_/449360

The Bel Airs play the Zoo Bar on Friday night, Levi Williams plays the F.A.C.. Lil Slim plays The Roadhouse in Lincoln. I have been hearing great things about his band and rumors of festival work this summer!

Bela Fleck show at Holland Center on Saturday night should be amazing. It is being billed as Bela Fleck, The Afrika Project. Collaborations with Amazing African Musicians.
Here is a video that explains more:

Here is the link to buy tickets: http://www.ticketomaha.com/tickets/performance-details.aspx?perf_no=3617

Ruthie Foster plays the Holland on 3/6 and Norah Jones will return to the Orpheum on 3/7. I am pretty sure BSO Members can get a $5 discount at these events: log-on to www.eventusher.com using the password: omahablues

At 8pm on Saturday, 2/20, Blue House will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary with a show at BarFly. Admission is just $8 for what is sure to be a great party with a huge cast of fine musicians. Blue House was voted “Best in Omaha” by Omaha Magazine. Sample their music here:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bhouse

Sunday is the much-anticipated Backyard Tire Fire show at The New Lift Lounge. The Matt Cox Band will open the show at 5pm with a set of their killer original tunes. ($10 Cover). Backyard Tire Fire is getting kind words from respected sources:

Johnny Hickman, Cracker:
“My favorite band right now is Backyard Tire Fire and they sometimes remind me of early Wilco, Sonvolt and Flaming Lips. And they unabashedly name check both Wayne Coyne and Tom Petty in song. They are my earworm the last few months.”

Steve Berlin, Los Lobos:
“It takes a pretty special band to rivet the attention of everyone in my band, and BTF certainly are. Great songs, great playing, and great guys. I’m really looking forward to the recording sessions- they’ve come up with another amazing batch of songs. In my opinion they are one of America’s best young bands”
Praise for The Places We Lived:
Paste Magazine – Tim Newby – January 2009

“The Places We Lived is a record that more closely resembles Neil Young’s ’70s masterpieces…with its honest feelings and longing for home that are brought to life with a storyteller’s touch and a guitar god’s muscle.”
Listen to (4) BTF songs here:

http://backyardtirefire.com/tunes/musicplayer.html

If you want to subscribe, or unsubscribe, to this FREE weekly Blues e-mail, follow this link to the Blues Society of Omaha’s website and follow the simple prompts: http://omahablues.com/index.php?page=mailinglist

www.OmahaBlues.com is where the calendar following this email can be found.

Please consider joining BSO, or switching to the GREEN VERSION of Blues Notes. You will be saving the planet while saving BSO some expense. http://omahablues.com/index.php?page=greensignup

The much-anticipated BB King and Buddy Guy show is finally almost here:
Next Monday, February 22nd at the Mid-America Center.
BSO Members can purchase their tickets at a discounted rate.
DISCOUNT OFFER GOOD THROUGH FEBRUARY 21 AT 10 PM
Password: omaha
(*SPECIAL $5 DISCOUNT OFFER ON $78 TICKET)

Get tickets here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/tonqyu

Tickets are on-sale now for Joe Bonamassa’s May 8th show at the Orpheum.

In case you don’t get a chance to pick up a Reader, remember you can read BJ Hutchemann’s HooDoo Blues online: http://www.thereader.com/hoodooblues.php

Please consider joining BSO, or switching to the GREEN VERSION of Blues Notes. You will be saving the planet while saving BSO some expense. http://omahablues.com/index.php?page=greensignup

Blues on the radio:

Mondays 1pm-3pm on KIOS 91.5 Mike Jacob’s “Blues in the Afternoon”

Sundays 9am-Noon on KIWR 89.7 Rick Galusha’s “PS Blues” Pacific Street Blues & Americana podcast:

http://kiwrblues.podOmatic.com/entry/2010-02-03T11_00_49-08_00

Lincoln’s KZUM Radio – Nebraska’s only community radio, has 19 hours of blues every week and you can listen to it on the web at KZUM.org.

Monday -3:00-6:00 Tail-Waggin’ Blues
Tuesday – 3:00-6:00 Highway Blues
Wednesday – 3:00-6:00 My Deja Blues
Thursday- 3:00-6:00 Trigger Meal Blues
Friday – 1:00-3:00 Women’s Blues and Boogie
Friday – 3:00-4:30 Hudson Blues
Friday – 4:30-6:00 Blues Oasis
Saturday 6:00am-8am Blues at Sunrise

Open Blues Jams:

Wednesdays: The Original Zebra Jam at Downtown Blues

Thursdays: Drunken Intentions host at Chrome (84th & Park Drive)

Thursdays: SwampJam at Pour House (97th & Mockingbird)

Thursday Night Blues and Jazz Set at the Keno King Lounge lower level (65th & Ames)

Sundays: Afternoon SwampJam 3pm-7pm at Millard VFW (136th & “Q” St.)

I just learned we have over 1,100 subscribers to this FREE weekly Blues e-mail. Unfortunately, that exceeds our membership in The Blues Society of Omaha. If you can afford the $30, please help the cause by joining at: http://omahablues.com/printmembership.php

I see Sugar Blue joined our Facebook Group. You know his harp playing from “Miss You”, one of my favorite Stones’ tunes. We are now at 1,314 friends on Facebook!!!! Follow the link below if you want to join our BSO Facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=54757108012

If you already joined, please consider using the “Invite Friends” feature to expand our reach!

Get out and get into it!

Terry O’Halloran

BSO Prez and emailer

Tue 2/16
Blind Dog Fulton…………………………………………………………………..Dinkers
FAT w/ Son of ’76 and The Watchmen (06:00pm)…………Zoo Bar,136 N. 14th St. Lincoln,402-435-8754
Kris Lager Band (09:00pm)………………………….Zoo Bar,136 N. 14th St. Lincoln,402-435-8754
Lil Joe and Big Trouble………………………………………………………Downtown Blues
Swampboy Blues Band (06:00pm)………………………………………………….Goodtimes Bar

Wed 2/17
Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights w/ Jason Ferguson (09:00pm)..The New Lift Lounge (fka Murphy’s)
Swampboy Blues Band (07:00pm)……………………………………………………Why Not Bar
Toasted Ponies (06:00pm)…………………………..Zoo Bar,136 N. 14th St. Lincoln,402-435-8754
Turkey Shack Blues Band (09:00pm)…………………..Zoo Bar,136 N. 14th St. Lincoln,402-435-8754
Zebra Jam…………………………………………………………………..Downtown Blues

Thu 2/18
John Wayne and The Pain (09:00pm)…………………..Zoo Bar,136 N. 14th St. Lincoln,402-435-8754
Open Jam w/Drunken Intentions………………………………………………….Chrome Lounge
Piano Hour (05:00pm)………………………………Zoo Bar,136 N. 14th St. Lincoln,402-435-8754
Sue Foley (05:30pm)………………………………………..The New Lift Lounge (fka Murphy’s)
Swampjam (weekly blues jam)………………………………………………………Pour House
Todd Campbell……………………………………………………………………….Ozone

Fri 2/19
Bel Airs…………………………………………Zoo Bar,136 N. 14th St. Lincoln,402-435-8754
Jumpin Kate (08:00pm)…………………………………………………Meadowlark Coffeehouse
Levi William (05:00pm)…………………………….Zoo Bar,136 N. 14th St. Lincoln,402-435-8754
Lil Slim Blues Band……………………………………………………The Roadhouse-Lincoln
Swampboy Blues Band………………………………………………………..Our Place Lounge

Sat 2/20
Bela Fleck……………………………………………………Holland Performing Arts Center
Blue House 20th Anniversary Show (08:00pm)……………BarFly,114th and Dodge (fka Shag Vodka Bar)
Levi William…………………………………………………………………The Roadhouse
The Blues Orchestra…………………………………………………..Django’s – Beaver Lake

Sun 2/21
Backyard Tire Fire w/ Matt Cox Band (05:00pm)…………………The New Lift Lounge (fka Murphy’s)

Mon 2/22
BB King w/ Buddy Guy……………………………………………………..Mid America Center
Mike Gurcuillos Las Vegas Lab Band (07:00pm)……………………………………………Ozone
Piano Hour (05:00pm)………………………………Zoo Bar,136 N. 14th St. Lincoln,402-435-8754

Tue 2/23
Jazzocracy……………………………………….Zoo Bar,136 N. 14th St. Lincoln,402-435-8754
Lil Joe and Big Trouble………………………………………………………Downtown Blues

Wed 2/24
Joe McCarthy and Sue Murray…………………………………………………Waterfall Lounge
Michael Charles (06:00pm)………………………….Zoo Bar,136 N. 14th St. Lincoln,402-435-8754
Zebra Jam…………………………………………………………………..Downtown Blues

Thu 2/25
Higher Pursuit………………………………………………………………………Ozone
Lil Slim Blues Band (09:00pm)………………………Zoo Bar,136 N. 14th St. Lincoln,402-435-8754
Lionel Young (05:30pm)……………………………………..The New Lift Lounge (fka Murphy’s)
Open Jam w/Drunken Intentions………………………………………………….Chrome Lounge
Piano Hour (05:00pm)………………………………Zoo Bar,136 N. 14th St. Lincoln,402-435-8754
Swampjam……………………………………………………………………The Pour House