Saturday Matinee – Carlos Johnson w/ HooDoo Band & Brass Company, Gary Eisenbraun and Vargas Blues Band

Carlos Johnson is “an American blues guitarist and singer. He is left-handed, but plays a right-handed instrument upside-down like players such as Otis Rush, Albert King, and Jimi Hendrix. Johnson is known for his aggressive playing which has attracted audiences in Chicago blue scene since the 1970s.”
 HooDoo Band is a Polish funk / soul / R&B band, formed in 2004 in Wrocław. Neither Johnson nor HooDoo Band & Brass Company appear to have active websites.

Gary Eisenbraun is an indie blues rock / soul guitarist from St Petersburg, Florida (and his website is too much for my eyeballs to put up with).

Vargas Blues Band: Javier Vargas was born in Madrid Spain shortly after his parents had left Buenos Aires where they had migrated some years before. Nine years later, the family returned to Argentina, and it is there where Javier started playing the guitar. […] In the 70’s, he lived in Nashville and L.A. playing the clubs and working recording sessions. He played with and impressed the likes of Alvin Lee, Roy Buchanan and Canned Heat, who also influenced his style.” [More at the link.]

So Iran broke the 437th ceasefire agreement, DJT changed planes, and Tyler Robinson did it. FIFA has been extended through January of next year, Arizonians attacked Newport Beach California, and we got screwworm flies buzzing around someplace. Tomorrow’s forecast: 80% chance of Porch Time with light banter is expected. See you there.

Foudroyant Hot Links

Drumheller, Alberta boasts “the world’s largest dinosaur statue”, a 26.3 meter tall Tyrannosaurus Rex statue. Just like the iconic T-Rex from the Fallout New-Vegas videogame, visitors can climb an internal staircase and view the surrounding desert through its mouth.

If You Were Mine, Otis Rush (1957)From his first hit in 1956 (I Can’t Quit You Baby) Otis Rush was the sound of West Side Chicago electric blues. His vocals and playing style influenced many who followed, including Buddy Guy, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn (who named his band after Rush’s 1959 hit Double Trouble).

Wash.

Quacky.

Hillrider.

A Library.

Sand choir.

CT pigeons.

66 weenies.

Flock party.

It’s not right.

Summer beads.

Balloon wombat.

Extreme cocktails.

On again, off again.

Crustacians & clams.

Popcorn & stop signs.

She hates intolerance.

Swiss Mountain Finder.

1976 Top 100 audio montage.

Tubas of history [via Thompson, blog].

Harry Revel’s Music From Out Of Space.

Pruncey-hayshin [via Everlasting Blört].

Hellbent For Safety [via Memo Of The Air].

[Top image: Canadian T-Rex with caption found here.]


From the Archives: 1 year ago. 5 years ago. 10 years ago. 15 years ago.

The 50th Anniversary of the Bicentennial – Independence Day 2026

Mostly random selection of mood music for 4th of July BBQ consumption enhancement follows.

[Caveat: I don’t own the copyrights to any of the recordings. They are presented here for entertainment purposes only.]

Obtruncated Hot Links

Whale bone chess pieces found in Uig, Scotland, 12th Century AD.

Dap Walk, Ernie and The Top Notes, Inc. (1972)
Over the years, Ernie has arranged and written songs for the likes of Ernie K-Doe, Alex Spearman, King Floyd, Eddie Bo, and Jessie Hill. He’s backed stars like Joe Tex, Solomon Burke, and Mardi Gras Indian bands, including the Wild Magnolias and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux’s Golden Eagles. He’s been a staple at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Formed in 1971 in New Orleans, the group consisted of Ernie Vincent (aka Ernie Vincent Williams) / guitar, writer & producer; John “Dap” Peters / bass; Lawrence Bowie  / trumpet; Freddie Green / trumpet; Nathaniel Gaines / sax; and Peter Rooster / drums. They disbanded in 1980.

OWL.

Loft.

Why?

Splody.

Baby snek.

Able Mable.

Munch Sun.

Home karate.

Ukraine train.

Jessica’s fish.

A little squirt.

Home au Rone.

Ethics is so passé.

Efficiency camper.

Memories of Covid.

Laundromat clothes.

Is the coffee ready?

Liver-eatin’ Johnson.

Mischievous tiny people.

The Phantom of Heilbronn.

She hates fascist democracies

Vocal Fry-y-y [via Thompson, blog].

Women in trees [via Everlasting Blört].

Jemma’s discord [via Memo Of The Air].

Shadowbanned & threatened over a song.

Exposing Afghani women to modern art is pricey.

Silky malachite plate with stalactites and botryoidal formations.

[Top image: Two pawns from a 12th century Scottish chess set found here. More about the Lewis Chessmen here.]


From the Archives: 1 year ago. 5 years ago. 10 years ago. 15 years ago.

Saturday Matinee – Chris Thomas King, The Bo-Keys & Dan Patlansky

Chris Thomas King‘s haunting cover of John The Revelator is made even spookier by the voodoo queen aura of the dancer. King became the last major folk blues discovery of the 20th Century when he was discovered in Louisiana in 1979 by a folklorist from the Smithsonian Institute. He was also chosen by the Coen brothers to play the role of itinerant bluesman Tommy Johnson in the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000).

The Bo-Keys features soul gospel singer Percy Wiggins. Led by producer / bassist Scott Bomar, the group includes historic session musicians from legendary Stax and Hi Records studio bands. (This song is NOT a cover – they released it in 2011).

Dan Patlansky was voted the #4 Best Guitarist in the world and (besides Joe Bonamassa!) remains the only artist in the world with two worldwide No. 1 and two worldwide No. 2 Best Blues Rock Albums as voted by Blues Rock Review USA.

Thanks to FIFA, visitors from around the world are giving rave reviews about everything from American food and hospitality to the wonders of state routes and Walmart. Oil prices are dropping, Iran promised to keep its promises a bit longer before breaking them again; everyone on Xwitter has suddenly  become experts on pool sealants and algae mitigation, and Clay Aiken hasn’t spoken to Kelly Ripa in 20 years.

The days seem to be getting shorter after last week’s solstice, so tomorrow is Porch Time. See you at half-past whenever.

Rheotropismic Hot Links

Atomic Dog, George Clinton (1982)
Atomic Dog was P-Funk‘s last recording to hit No. 1 on the U.S. R&B chart, but didn’t make Billboard’s Top 100. Bow wow wow yippie yo yippie yay.

A long ride.

Retro Sci-Fi.

Blue glizzies.

20 violations.

Relativity in 3D.

Some one-liners.

Chewin’ the ‘zooka.

An unfinished song.

10 BIG COOL DRINKS.

The mountains of Houston.

The Reflecting Pool update.

The Season [via Bustednuckles].

Heinrichs and Bachmann covers.

Fast tapper [via Memo Of The Air].

Hoodrats in Mehdi’s Bronx bodega.

Metro Tunnel State Library Station.

Cows and cars [via Thompson, blog].

Couldn’t edit the green guy who’s a girl.

Top 50 clichés of AI [via Nag on the Lake].

Doodle Boy then, Doodle Boy now [via Everlasting Blört.

[Image at top: Tusken Raiders of the Lost Ark, via Miss Cellania.]


From the Archives: 1 year ago. 5 years ago. 10 years ago. 15 years ago.

Saturday Matinee – Broken Brass, Boogie Beasts & The Cinelli Brothers

Broken Brass play a mix of funk, afrobeat, and New Orleans jazz, and have been dubbed “the unintended headliner of Into the Great Wide Open” an annual open-air music festival held on the island of Vlieland, Netherlands.

Belgian blues band Boogie Beasts formed in 2011 after a jam session at a bar in Leuven. They’ve performed in various blues venues and festivals in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany Luxembourg, Switzerland and more, and have released two albums to date.

Winners of the 2024 UK Blues Band of the Year, The Cinelli Brothers (Marco and Alessandro) revive 1960s – 70s vintage electric blues, R&B and soul with a modern vibe. Hit the Ground Running is a cover of a Catfish song, performed for a tribute album to Catfish frontman Matt Long, who succumbed to cancer in October 2024.

News of the Week includes vandalism at the bottom of the Washington Monument reflecting pool, the BO Library dedication party, live alligator wrestling at the White House, another peace deal for the ROP jihadists of Iran to violate, and FIFA 24/7. I might have missed a few things, so bring a list with you tomorrow – it’s porch time once again.

Furciferous Hot Links

Stormy Weather, Reigning Sound (2019) Great garage punk cover of the classic torch song Stormy Weather, first recorded by Ethel Waters in 1933.

So sad.

TP in bw.

Manhunt.

Road trips.
Road maps.

Gay spray?!

Big weather.

Anamika’s art.

House for sale.

George noticed.

The Soccer Team.

Song of the Static.

The $1,800 lesson.

The anti-concession.

Nepetalactone + cats.

Isometric NYC [via Nav Tour].

MOBOT [via Thompson, blog].

Some people get all the credit.

Somewhere on Latrobe Street.

A lot of drama in a little suburb.

Veering left [via Memo Of The Air].

Huang Yung-Fu, the village painter.

A Daily Cloud [via Everlasting Blört.]

[Image at top: Cropped and modified image of cover art of the May 1939 issue of Fantastic Adventures, found in here.]


From the Archives: 1 year ago. 5 years ago. 10 years ago. 15 years ago.

Saturday Matinee – Amani Burnham, Robben Ford (w/ The Frankfurt Radio Big Band) & Chicago

Guitarist and vocalist Amani Burnham, backed by an unnamed power duo, recorded his first album entitled Roots & Wings (released this year). Born in Ethiopia, Burnham began his career in 2023 on social media, with 250,000 followers and nearly 30 million cumulative views on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook).

Robben Ford, backed by The Frankfurt Radio Big Band, cover Howie Casey & The Seniors 1962 classic. Ford was named one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century” by Musician magazine (and has one hell of a resume).

Chicago, the self-described rock and roll band with horns, released 25 or 6 to 4 as a single in 1970. It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 on the Cash Box Top 100 charts. The title is about writing a song in the wee hours of the morning –  25 or 26 minutes before 4 am.

I hear that the world championship to determine which country has the best association football team is underway. I think it’s called FIFI or FAFO or something, I don’t really follow it much, so I’ll be on the porch tomorrow instead. See you there.

Panhygrous Hot Links

Man Child, Sam The Sham (1963)
Domingo Samudio, aka Sam The Sham, released his first 45rpm in 1962, a cover of Chick Willis’ Betty and Dupree; the B side was Man Child. Two years later, Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs’ hit Wooly Bully made No. 1 in Billboard’s Top 100 for 1965. Contrary to popular belief, Samudio wasn’t of Mexican ancestry; he was of Basque/Apache descent.

HORSE.

Little Sadie.

A true woody.

Speed climbing.

Comfortable shoes.

Too many gummies.

A reunion at Lowe’s.

Creating mediocrity.

Recycling briquettes.

Animated Beastie Boys.

Jaya The Cat’s roadtrip.

Melbourne train stations.

George Washington’s beer.

Robotic prototypes of 1968.

Erik Kogan’s odd photography.

The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo.

Tower Records 1971 [via Everlasting Blört.]

The new recipe smells just like the old recipe.

Headbanging with glasses [via Thompson, blog].

Chaco Chachalaca, Dickcissel & 98 more cool bird names
[via Memo Of The Air].

[Image at top: Slotville Gas by Jarel Built found here via here.]


From the Archives: 1 year ago. 5 years ago. 10 years ago. 15 years ago.