1987 claymation video by Aardman Animations features the voice and piano of Eunice Kathleen Waymon, aka gospel / jazz / R&B / soul singer Nina Simone, with a song from 1958. She changed her name to elude family members and play “the devil’s music” in an Atlantic City nightclub. The management told her that she would have to sing to her own accompaniment, and that launched her career as a jazz vocalist.
“What’s your band’s name?”
“The High Numbers.”
“The who?”
“Yes.”
Too far south to see this weekend’s aurorae, and I hope everyone who can survives the EMT barrage. I’ll take the event as a good omen, and yet another damn good reason to do some porch sitting tomorrow.
See you then.
Anna Sciontiwon the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society’s (MBAS) Blues Performer of the Year 2023 (Solo/Duo Category) and represented the MBAS at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee in January 2024.
Dubbed The World’s Greatest Two Person Rock ‘N’ Roll Ensemble, Flavia & Martin Couri, aka The Courettes, make retro new again. Hop hop.
The Holophonics are a ska punk reggae band with members from New York City, Dallas/Ft. Worth & Southern California. At least they have a Facebook page.
This trio consists of Dan Patlansky / guitar & vocals, Tom Schwan / bass and Ben Matthews / drums. Patlansky is a blues guitarist from South Africa, was voted the No. 4 Best Guitarist in the world. He’s the only artist with two worldwide No. 1 and two No. 2 Best Blues Rock album awards as voted by Blues Rock Review.
Been another week full of Time Flies and I still haven’t figured out how to slow them down. I plan to be up at the crack of noon tomorrow for porch time and we can discuss our options then. See you when you get here.
Isleyhead – Ace of Shout mashup by Bill McClintock put a big grin on my face. Amazing how well it works, and McClintock’s got more. [h/t Gord S.]
Texas born Caron “Sugaray” Rayford grew up in starvation-level poverty. His mother struggled to raise three boys alone while battling cancer; when she died, the siblings were relieved. “She suffered and we suffered. Then, we moved in with my grandmother and our lives were a lot better. We ate every day and we were in church every day, which I loved. I grew up in gospel and soul.”
Amazing how much news can fit into one week and my neck is stiff from the whip arounds. Looks like we’re do for some quality patio time tomorrow. See you there.
Davide Pannozzo, with Etienne Stadwijk (keyboards) and Clint de Ganon (drums). Trained in classical guitar, Pannozzo opened a show for Magic Slim at the age of 14 and has been playing the blues ever since. A graduate of Rome’s Conservatory of Santa Cecilia, Pannozzo has won many awards, including Acoustic Solo Guitarist at the Emergenza European Acoustic Festival, the Groove Master Award for Best Italian Blues guitarist and Scotland’s Highland Uproar competition.
HAIM = sisters Este (bass and vocals), Danielle (lead vocals, guitar and drums), and Alana Haim (guitar, keyboards and vocals). Great cover of Fleetwood Mac’s 1969 hit Oh Well in front of a huge crowd.
Monday is National Confiscation Day, so don’t forget to mail your yearly pound of flesh to the bureaus that squander it – the beast gets all humpy when it hasn’t been fed. Have a great weekend and we’ll watch the rain tomorrow.
“A song is like a women’s dress, it’s got to be long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to keep you interested.” – James Harman (1946-2021)
Any list of west coast blues roots rockers include Kid Ramos & The 44’s. Ramos has played with almost every regional blues band worth a mention (and more). As for The 44’s, they can hold their own with no help.
Well, well, well. Another weekend is here, and since the world hasn’t fallen apart yet, I’ll be on the porch thinking I should be doing something important. See you tomorrow for a superficial in-depth discussion of whatever.
They’re part rock, part psychadelia, part R&B and part soul, but mostly Seratones is lead singer and guitar player A.J. Haynes. When asked what inspires her, she responded, “Afrofuturism.”
Backed by drummer Aaron Griffin and (the late) Willie J. Campbell on bass, Texas bluesman Shawn Pittman took a shot at Magic Sam’s Boogie at the Blues City Deli in St. Louis, (2018). Comment from the Utoobage: “Dude in front caught the vibe. Was later seen walking across the Mississippi to the Illinois side. Was epic.”
The Rumjacks are a Celtic punk band, formed in Sydney Australia in 2008, relocated to Europe in 2016. An Irish Pub Song(2010) was in the top 5 of the “Most Popular St Patricks Day” songs on YouTube for the years 2016 through 2019 according to Billboard Magazine.
Rory Gallagher, live at the Cork Opera House, Cork, Ireland, 1987. Another master guitar slinger who died way before his time.
Saint Patrick’s Day weekend has begun, and I imagine a lot of you green ale guzzlers will give Monday morning a pass. Meanwhile, we’ll be on porch watch. See you then.