Lobster Pot Provincetown, oil, Robert Abele III 2017.
Big Ugly Wheels, The Beat Farmers (1990)The Beat Farmers (1983–1995) were a great band from San Diego, California (best experienced live) and featured the late Country Dick Montana. According to their website, they’ve since reformed re-formed with a new lineup.
Born in 1952 on Craig Air Force Base near Selma, Alabama, slide guitarist, singer and songwriter Kenny Brown plays in the North Mississippi Hill Country blues style. He was taught by some of the best, including R.L. Burnside, who claimed him as his adopted son.
Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, James Thomas Uvalle (1980 – 2015) taught himself to play guitar at the age of 11. At 16 he adopted the moniker JT Coldfire and began his songwriting and performing career. He passed away suddenly at 35 years.
“The Killborn Alley Blues Band kills. Picture a deep-dish Chicago version of the Fabulous Thunderbirds back 30 years ago.” Tom Clark, review of Tear Chicago Down, Hittin’ the Note • Issue 55, 2007.
Stock market up, stock market down, stock market up, and shake it all around. Been happening forever, seems a lot of people with TDS just began to notice. Meanwhile, the porch will open tomorrow promptly at whenever and we’ll discuss the best methods of trapping a skunk. See you then.
Hot Dog Dooly Wah, The Pyramids (1959) Not to be confused with the surf band from CA, or the reggae group from the UK, or the R&B group from Detroit, or others, these Pyramids appear to be songwriter Vince Catalano (who also disguised himself as The Acorns).
Ginger St. James began her career singing in small town Ontario bars and now headlines shows as one of Canada’s top roots rock / rockabilly / country artists. Good stuff.
You’re Losing Me, Barbara Lynn (1968) Barbara Lynn (aka Barbara Lynn Ozen, Barbara Lynn Cumby) is a well-known blues / R&B singer, songwriter and electric guitar player with an impressive discography. She was only 19 when she began her recording career with Give Me A Break in 1961, and the following year she scored her biggest hit You’ll Lose A Good Thing. Many years and many tours later, sharing the stage with almost every big name in the business, she’s still performing.
16 Horsepower was a Denver-based group that mixed rock, bluegrass and Appalachian gospel. They released four studio albums before egos got in the way: they disbanded in 2005, citing “mostly political and spiritual” differences.
“David is a great blues player. I like his style!” – Johnny Winter Canadian singer, songwriter and bluesman David Gogo began playing guitar at the age of five; at 15 he met and was encouraged by Stevie Ray Vaughan; a year later he formed his first band. He’s won numerous awards, including three JUNOs (despite EMI spiking his solo album in the US).
Been watching a lot of police body cam videos lately, and after a while I began noticing behavioral patterns of those who eventually get hauled off to the hoosegow. The ones who squeal the loudest are usually guilty of more egregious crimes than just expired license plate tags.
I also notice that the same applies to politicians when they’re exposed as unethical grifting frauds. Keep that in mind as you watch current events unfold.
Any Way The Wind Blows, Los Brujos (1996)
From Unmatched – Tributo A Zappa Vol. 1, a collection of covers of Frank Zappa songs, de grupos y artistas españoles. There are 9 such compilations in the series.
Gospel, soul, blues and jazz singer Ruthie Foster began her career singing at churches in rural Texas, described herself as a “little Black girl with a guitar.” After college, she joined the US Navy where she began singing in the naval band Pride, playing pop and funk hits at recruitment drives. Since then, she’s won numerous Blues Music Awards and earned three Grammy nominations.
“Austin, Texas, doesn’t have a Trombone Shorty, the Subdudes or Dirty Dozen Brass Band like New Orleans does but they do have Mingo Fishtrap, and they’re just as funky and soulful as those bands with a healthy dash of Motown tossed into their pot.” –Something Else Reviews
From Oakland, The California Honeydrops cover Wilson Pickett. “The California Honeydrops…evoke the greasy rumble of Booker T. and channel the spiritual ecstasy of Sly and the Family Stone.” -Rolling Stone
It seems the news machine has skipped the soak, wash and rinse cycles and is stuck on spin with a noisy unbalanced load. It’s just about time to fire up the porch and take it for a sit. See you there.