Be sure to support our supporters with your patronage! our supporters Be sure to support Local LIVE music schedules Johnny Rawls at Checkers Checkers at Raven Reverend Big Mo’s CD review & Erickson togetherMcMurrin Grill at Kaji Japanese 10th Chili Challenge! Annual In this January issue — issue January In this MMcMurrin Cool Issue 186Cool Issue a at Kaji s share the stage c
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e n January 2010January The Linn County Blues Society is a way 2009 Chili Challenge cool, non-profi t organization dedicated Daddy-O & Craig to the preservation of Blues music in Parrot Heads & LCBS compete for the best chili! Eastern Iowa as well as to provide Kaji hosts CR All-Stars with a dynamic duo charitable contributions to other commu- Steve Springer nity organizations. LCBS is an Affi liated Article by Frank Wilson (no relation to Brian) Organization in the Blues Foundation’s international network. The BLUESPAPER Skeeter Lewis and the Cedar Rapids All-Stars appeared at Kaji Japanese Grill he Isle of Iowa Parrot Head is a monthly publication of the LCBS. Club and the Linn County Website: lcbs.org on Saturday December 5, and it was a real treat. Skeeter brought together some Blues Society will hold their of Cedar Rapids’ best musicians (of course, they are the “All Stars!) T LCBS Offi cers Tenth Annual Blues ‘n’ Buffett Chili President - Andy Dergo This lineup included Daddy-O McMurrin and Craig Erickson on guitars, DJ Challenge on February 28, 2-5 PM at Vice President - Evan Vulich Johnson on bass, Butch O’Connell on drums and Skeeter on sax. It was a rare Secretary - Steve Springer treat to see Daddy-O and Craig sharing the venue and trading licks. We could the Marriott Hotel on Collins Road. Treasurer - Sue Dergo The Chili Challenge is a friendly com- all see the Daddy-O and Craig were enjoying this unique experience of playing petition between the two clubs to raise Directors at Large with each other. Bob De Forest, Bill Meeks, Frank Wilson money for charity. Proceeds from the Lee Nguyen’s Kaji has a nice big room, and a cool vibe for watching the Blues. Murali Coryell event will go to H.D. Youth Center Chairs Lee is a musician himself, and was our enthusiastic host for the evening. Sugar Lips and the Free Medical Clinic of Cedar Education: Gary Gibson The house was packed and entranced by this rare combination of local talent. Murali’s Music PR Chair: Stephanie Heck Rapids. The Parrot Heads chose the Entertainment - Greg West DJ directed traffi c on “Jump Jive” and everyone got their share of the licks in. Free Medical Clinic to help support Membership - Kevin Cutsforth Skeeter has some more special combinations like this up his sleeve in the near Release Date: Nov. 17, 2009 costs for those who need medical as- Merchandise - David Andrews future; watch the LCBS Bluespaper and LCBS e-mail Blasts for upcoming ap- sistance that is not affordable. LCBS The Bluespaper & LCBS folks pearances. By the time this goes to print, Skeeter has also played with Daddy-O Son of Jazz Fusion great Larry chose H.D. Youth Center which pro- Editor - Evan Vulich and Billy Lee Janey. Coryell, ‘Sugar Lips’ was in- Photographers - Bill Ray, see bylines spired by the sudden death of vides a safe place to go as well as food Staff Writers - Bill Ray, see bylines to under-privileged youth. Last year, Distribution - Andy Dergo, Bill Meeks Photo by Kevin Kinney Murali’s mother. With help from the event raised over $5,000 for these receive a traveling trophy and bragging Parliamentarian - Bill Meeks his father, Joe Louis Walker, Program - Bob De Forest two fi ne organizations. Over $16,000 rights for their club. A Silent Auction Web Admin: Evan Vulich Reese Wyands and collabora- has been raised and donated to local will again be featured at this year’s tor/drummer Tom Hambridge, Membership Murali Coryell has created a CD charities in the fi rst nine years of the event. All monies raised from the auc- To learn more about the Linn County event’s existence. You’re invited to at- tion will be included in the donations Blues Society or to join, see the member- that is a jazz/blues/rock cross- tend to taste the various chilies and to charities. Thanks in advance for your ship form in this Bluespaper or the LCBS over gem. Soulful vocals, twin- website. Your membership includes; kling Strats and good songs vote for your favorite. Admission the support. If you have questions or you • D i s c o u n t a d m i s s i o n s to m a ny l o c a l day of the event is $6 which includes are interested in getting some tickets Blues activities. make an album that inspires a fi ve vote tickets and the tasting of the to sell, please contact one of the fol- • Monthly LCBS Bluespaper. lot of thought (Mother’s Day is • Voting rights in the LCBS elections. chilies. Children ages 6 and under will lowing volunteers. Steve Petersen 395- • Being a part of the groove! almost hard to listen to) but still be admitted free when accompanied 9520, Kate Sanders 842-2393 or Steve gets you up a shaking on a few Bluespaper Contact information tunes. It’s a nice listen, maybe by an adult, and senior citizens ages Springer 395-9516. Send news, band or club live entertain even more than once. 65 and older receive a $1 discount Advance tickets are available for $5 -ment listings or advertising to: Above; The Daddy-O, Dennis McMurrin, along with Craig Erickson, brought a powerful musical Evan Vulich at: [email protected]. on admission. Additional vote tickets through February 28 by calling; Steve presence to the table at Kaji Japenese Grill. Along with Craig and the Daddy-O, below, are the — John Heim (A.K.A. “Big Mo”) for the People’s Choice award will be Springer at 395-9516, or Keith Wright Bluespaper Ad Rates rest of the Cedar Rapids All-Stars; Skeeter Lewis on sax, Butch O’Connell on drums and Dan DJ available for 50 cents each. The club at 377-4913. $15.00 - Business card size - 2” x 3.5” Johnson on bass. receiving the most votes will receive $25.00 - Quarter page ad - 3.5” x 4.75” $50.00 - Half page ad - 4.75” x 7.25” Hey, armchair blues fans! There is no bet- a plaque and their club’s charity will $100.00 - Full page - 7.5” x 10” ter time to join the LCBS than now! We receive 51% of the proceeds from the Because of the bad weather, we could use your help now. We have posi- Submission Requirements- All ads, tions open. Bluesmore 16 is now behind event; the runner-up club 49% of the will be having another showing of photos or scanned images, either color us, we are planning next year’s festival. proceeds for their charity. Chili Chal- Love and Valor at the Collins Road or black/white, need to be 300ppi. Native Just fi ll out the application on our web site lenge contestants are members of the Theatre on Tuesday February 23 Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, JPG, TIFF, and send it in with your 20 bucks and we’ll at 7:15pm. We may even call it the EPS, PDF, BMP accepted. Ads created in see that you are a part of a really great or- two clubs and each brings their own Word may cause dimentia, severe cramp- rescheduled premiere. ganization! Help us keep the blues alive! special chili and booth decorations to ing and diarrhea. Deadline for submis- Be a part of the groove! Ushers Ferry will be in charge of th share. There will be up to 30 chilies sions is the 19 of the month. tickets again. We will be sending “... I think people overemphasize the im- for tasting. Celebrity Judges will be out additional notices when we Moving? Send your new address to; on hand to taste and vote on the Best LCBS, PO Box 2672, Cedar Rapids, IA portance of gear in their search for tone. Your get closer to the event. 52406-2672 so you won’t miss a single sound comes from how you pick and dampen Chili. The club receiving a majority Thank you! Charlie Larimer issue of your Bluespaper. the strings and from your attack as much as of judge’s votes for the Best Chili will Photo by Kevin Kinney anything...” – Eric Johnson
2 / Linn County Blues Society ©2010 ©2010 Linn County Blues Society / 3 Rev. Raven & the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys Johnny Rawls gives classy performance Return to Checkers Tavern & Eatery Return to Checkers Tavern photos by Bill Ray photos by Bill Ray
everend Raven and his brown outrider coats and hats that gave a profession. A guitar-playing grandfather very polished dressy appearance to the encouraged him. Other musical infl u- Chain Smoking Altar Boys whole stage show. ences in his youth were Jackie Wilson, Rperformed at Checkers in Rawls has two excellent CD’s currently Bobby Bland, B. B. King, and his mentor, Cedar Rapids, December 3. It was a selling well. “Red Cadillac” was released O. V. Wright, whose band Rawls joined triumphant return for the Milwaukee- in 2008, and “Ace of Spades” in 2009. and played in several years until Wright’s based band on a Thursday night, as Many songs from these recordings were death. In fact, his latest CD, “Ace of a large crowd was in attendance to written by Johnny himself, such as “Wish Spades” is dedicated to the memory of dance and listen to the Rev preach, It Would Rain,” “Can I Get It?” “Good this infl uential mentor. play and sing the blues. Lovin’ Going On,” “Hard Times,” “I Want At age 58, Johnny Rawls is at the peak “Big Al” Groth was still playing To Thank You,” and “Going Back Home.” of his musical career and in good health. powerful saxophone riffs and solos Rawls also relies on contributions from He has done it all---from songwriting, Texas songwriter Bobby Trenchardt who performing, arranging, touring, encour- with the band–matching and comple- has penned “Moment of Weakness,” aging younger musicians, and even start- menting Raven’s blues guitar mastery “My Broken and vigorous vocals. P. T. Pederson Heart,” “Ameri- was perfect on bass, and Bobby Sell- ohnny Rawls and his Blues Revue can Blues,” and ers, Jr. kept the rhythm on drums and performed Sunday, December 6, at “Falling For sang harmony vocals and some lead P.T Pederson playing the bass JCheckers in Cedar Rapids. It was You.” The band vocals. the evening of the Little Snow and two played many of Reverend Raven’s musical journey past issues of the Bluespaper at the nights before the Big Snow. The band had these originals as has been told before in the pages of Linn County Blues Society web site played the night before in Des Moines and well as excellent our Bluespaper. I refer you to our re- (lcbs.org). was on its way to Chicago to perform at covers of “Farther Buddy Guy’s Legends club. Up the Road,” view in the June 2009 issue. You can Thanks to P. J. and Pam Harrington A medium-size Checkers crowd en- “Pride and Joy,” at Checkers for bringing a double dose refresh your memory by downloading thusiastically greeted each song with ap- “It’s All Right,” of great touring blues bands to Cedar plause and appreciation. Listeners had “Green On- Rapids in early December: Reverend come from as far away as Anamosa, Iowa ions,” and Jimmy Raven and Johnny Rawls. Nice holi- City, and Decorah. One patron was a Reed’s “Baby, day gifts! young man whose trip to Colorado was What You Want Reverend Raven leads the Chain Smokin’ interrupted by car trouble. He told Johnny Me To Do?” Go- Altar Boys at Checkers Tavern & Eatery. he was lucky to have stumbled upon some ing from a sub- fi rst-ratemusical entertainment to pass the lime slow ballad time while stuck in Cedar Rapids. like “I Would Be Indeed, Johnny Rawls always gives Nothing (With- a classy, pleasing show as he sings and out You, Girl)” plays blues and soul-fl avored tunes. His to the bawdy Fender Stratocaster guitar licks are un- “Lucy, Get Juicy” derstated, crisp and precise. His voice is is all within easy smooth and articulate as he sings about reach of the silky Johnny Rawls, lead guitar and lead vocals love gone right and wrong, relationships smooth singing of Johnny Rawls. ing up his own recording label. between men and women, unfulfi lled Sitting at the CD sales table, I had ample The Blues Revue still does about 200 dreams, and all the classic topics of any opportunity to talk with Johnny about his tour dates a year and played at ten blues blues repertoire. life, music, and wisdom learned on the festivals in 2009. Three festivals were On this Midwest tour, Rawls was joined road. Rawls was born and raised in Missis- in California, one each in Montana, Ver- by his long-time drummer, Allen Kirk, sippi. His mother did domestic work. His mont, Pennsylvania, and one close-by in who also does great harmony vocals. On father did some truck farming, hired farm Wisconsin (the Prairie Dog Blues Fest.) rhythm guitar was James Cosey who did work, and bootlegging. In essence, he grew Unfortunately for Rawls’ Iowa fans, a cal- some excellent solo work. Rejoining the up within all the limitations of most Afri- endar anomaly had his Prairie du Chien band after some years absence was James can- American families living in a Deep festival appearance on the same day as “House Cat” Carson on bass. Carson and South state. Bluesmore in Cedar Rapids. “ Big Al” Groth still playing powerful sax riff s. Bobby Sellers holding the rhythm and vocals. Cosey were sporting long, black and Music was a way out and his chosen Continued on page 7 4 / Linn County Blues Society ©2010 ©2010 Linn County Blues Society / 5 Johnny Rawls continued from page 5 Sat. - The Firehouse- Jam with various players 4-8PM Married, with six children, Johnny has learned to take care of his Sun.- Mahoney’s - Various artists-Never a Cover, 6pm Local Music musical business seriously. He has homes in Mississippi, California, Sun.- Charlie’s, Coralville-Blues Jam Live Performance and Milwaukee, where his wife and children reside. When I looked Tues. Gibby’s Lab Jam, Chrome Horse, 8-11PM January Calendar surprised at his owning three homes, Rawls explained that he does Guitar Instruction at Kirkwood Wed.- Checkers Tavern-Kevin BF Burt solo 6-9 not smoke, drink, use drugs or waste money. He works hard, enjoys (Earn College Credits) Fri 1 Chrome Horse Electric Mule, 9-1 Thurs.-J.M.O’Malley’s-T-Bone Giblin Jam Fest EVERY Screaming Eagle 4Box O Rocks, Waterloo, 9:30PM being a successful musician, and invests wisely. Enough said. Guitar Repairs Sat. 2 Firehouse- JAM Various players, 4-8PM Yacht Club The Demolition Band Sun. 3 Mahoney’s Irish Pub Dick Prall (pending) Tue. 5 Chrome Horse Gibby’s Lab Jam, 8PM Thur. 7 J.M. O’Malley’s Bryce Janey Group w/ DJ, 9-1 Next Door The Mike & Rob Show, 8-11PM Fri. 8 Beaver Creek, CR Mike Williams solo, 9-1 The Hub, Cedar Falls Blue Band, 6-9PM $POTUSVDUJPO --$ Ernie’s McMurrin & Johnson, 6-9PM Sat. 9 Firehouse- JAM Various players, 4-8PM The LCBS meets the 1st Monday of each month. 319-936-6382 The Mill, Iowa City Blue Band, 9PM See you at the Longbranch on January 4, 6:30PM for Mulligans 4Box O Rocks, 9PM -JDFOTFEt*OTVSFEt3FGFSFODFT the LCBS general meeting. Guests are welcome! Sun. 10 Mahoney’s Irish Pub Billy Janey w/ Dan Johnson, 6-10PM 90 Twixt Town Rd., Marion • 377-6386. Discounts for LCBS members! Tue. 12 Chrome Horse Gibby’s Lab Jam, 8PM %JTDPVOUTGPSJOUFSJPSXJOUFSXPSL Wed. 13 Electric Park Ballroom The Tornadoes w/ Janiva Magness, KUNI BB Above: James Cosey, rhythm guitar, James “House Cat” Carson, bass. Sammy’s Lounge, CR The Mike & Rob Show, 8-1 Specializing in Below: Allen Kirk, drums and harmony vocals CVJMEFSSPO!BPMDPN Next Door McMurrin & Johnson, 7-10PM RIBS, STEAK, PRIME RIB, LOBSTER & CRAB Thur. 14 J.M. O’Malley’s DDog & The BBits, 9-1 Featuring our award winning Checkers Tavern Joe & Vicki Price, 7PM BBQ Pork Ribs! Shuey’s, Shueyville The Mike & Rob Show, 9-1 Seafood • 30 item salad bar Tomaso’s Pizza Fri. 15 Java House, Iowa City The Blue Midnight Trio, 8-12 Kids menus • Specialty desserts Tornados McMurrin & Johnson, 5-7PM Next Door Billy Janey Trio w/ Dan Johnson, 9PM Official Pizza Sat. 16 Firehouse- JAM Various players, 4-8PM Chrome Horse Jeff Bruner of Bluesmore! Shuey’s 4Box O Rocks, 9PM 3234 Center Point Rd. Sun. 17 Mahoney’s Irish Pub Slip Silo, 6-10PM Parlor City Pub Demolition Band, 6-10PM 364-4313 Tue. Chrome Horse Gibby’s Lab Jam, 8PM Thur. 21 J.M. O’Malley’s Gibby & friends, 9-1 Cedar Landing The Mike & Rob Show, 9-1 Helping people Shuey’s McMurrin & Johnson, 7-10PM make great Fri. 22 Tornados Tom Bruner & Dan Johnson, 5-8PM music and The Hub, Cedar Falls Hamilton Loomis, 6:30-PM Kaji Japanese Grill Skeeter Louis All Stars, 9:30-1 pursue their Sat. 23 Firehouse- JAM Various players, 4-8PM dreams for over Shawn Ryans, CR Mike Williams solo, 8-12 43 years. Shuey’s Gov. of Funk Stew w/ Skeeter Louis, 9PM Other bits of wisdom I learned from this easy-going, friendly 4651 1st Ave SE Sun. 24 Mahoney’s Irish Pub The Werks, 6-10PM blues performer: Always spend Thanksgiving and Christmas at Cedar Rapids, IA 319.378.1720 Tue. 26 Chrome Horse Gibby’s Lab Jam, 8PM home with your family, choose reliable and talented band members guitarcenter.com Thur. 28 J.M. O’Malley’s Gibby & friends, 9-1 who understand and support your musical style and it’s more eco- Dublin City Pub The Mike & Rob Show, 8-11PM nomical to use rental cars (two months at a time) while on tour than CR Landing McMurrin & Johnson, 8-11PM to own your vehicles and pay for repairs and maintenance. LCBS membership renewals. Thank you! Fri. 29 5th Gear Electric Mule, 9-1 After his Cedar Rapids gig, Johnny was going to spend a couple Ernie’s Bryce Janey w/ Dan Johnson, 6-9PM of days at home in Milwaukee with his wife and kids before driving Andy & Sue Dergo, Bob Dorr, James Ferry, Sat. 30 Firehouse-JAM Various players, 4-8PM to Chicago for his show at Buddy Guy’s Legends. He said one of his Don & Diann Barrigar, Dale Cooley, Jill Handley, CR Landing Billy Janey Band w/ Dan Johnson, 9PM older daughters sometimes joins the band to sing a few songs. With Bryce Janey, Bev & Ian Philpott, Ron Schantz Sun. 31 Mahoney’s Irish Pub Chili Cookoff, No band. obvious paternal pride, he said, “She has a really good voice!” & Christine Everhart, Phillip Smith, The “Rev- After the Christmas holidays with his family, Johnny Rawls will erend” Frank & Diane Wilson, Bill Keating, Tim 3639 1st. Ave. SE be on the road again with a scheduled New Year’s Eve show in Loynachan, William Ray, Nick Barp, Alan Evan- “Guitarists should be able to pick up the guitar and play music on it for an hour, Rockland, Maine. I kind of wish I could be there. There’s going to Schwartz, Evan Vulich and Daryl G. Wear. without a rhythm section or anything.” — Joe Pass starsguitars.com 319.362.1881 be some great dancing and some great soulful blues going on.
6 / Linn County Blues Society ©2010 ©2010 Linn County Blues Society / 7
52406-2672
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Friday Blues- 10% OFF • 6-10 PM - Da Friday Blues all other services • 10-11 PM - Backstage Blues • 11 PM to midnight - KCCK Jams for all LCBS members and family! • Midnight Blues CD Saturday Blues - 3535 1st Ave SE 2160 Edgewood RD SW • 6-10 PM - Da Blues with Bobby D • 10-11 PM - The Crawfi sh Circuit 319-286-1111 319-654-8405 • 11 PM -midnight - The Melting Pot Ask for Chris Ask for Darin • Midnight Blues CD
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