April/May 2015 #211 $5.00 US New England’s only independent Blues newsletter mailing the schedules of our outstanding, hard working TheBlues Bands and BluesBlues Clubs to dedicated Blues Fans Audiencesince 1991. © ATB/TBA 2015 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Performance schedules and lots of Blues News for our local New England Blues Bands and Blues Clubs • Interview: Roomful of Blues’ versatile guitarist talks about his career by Art Simas • The Ex-President’s File- local Boston area and beyond Blues news by “Sistah K” Karen Nugent • Another great New England guitarist, Ricky “King” Russell talks to Sistah K about his life in Blues. above: Chris Vachon, lead guitarist and bandleader of Roomful of Blues talks about the road, recording and being a cornerstone of Roomful of Blues for the past 25 years, pictured here on stage at Tupelo Music Hall. - photo by J. LoFaro to right: Rick Russell “go to” guitar player performs with The Love Dogs at Strange Brew, Manchester, NH - photo by DIana Shonk Notes from the Publisher do it all with the steady backing of Chris’ very with him at Chan’s in Woonsocket, RI april 18. capable guitar playing. It’s officially being billed as “Dan Moretti and the Hammond Boys featuring Michelle “Evil RICKY “KING” RUSSELL Karen Nugent Gal” Willson.” See Chan’s schedule on page 8. interviewed Rick Russell, who I think is one of Michelle also has a radio show on WICN In our more outstanding guitar players here in Worcester, Ma 6-9am on Monday-Wednesday, New England. We have been spotlighting these It is very interesting and informative AND guys because I don’t see enough press about swinging. them and I think it is important to realize how lucky we are to have such outstanding talent WILLIE J. LAWS BAND is nominated for Best right here in New England where we can catch Blues Act 2015 in the New England Music them on a regular basis. His band, The Cadillac Awards! He will be playing at the Showcase I am looking forward to seeing Sugar Ray (l) and Neil Horns, was the back up band for the OPEN Live! in Foxborough, MA the night of the award Gouvin (r) in Memphis in May.- photo by Nick Tsui MIC AT THE KNICK which is one of my top show. See his schedule on page 6. HELLO FELLOW BLUES LOVERS ten favorite recordings of 2014, if you haven’t Welcome to SPRING!!! As I write this the heard it, you should, many guest singers includ- SUGAR RAY & THE BLUETONES are nomi- wind is blowing hard and it is still very cold ing Sugar Ray Willie J. Laws, Curtis Salgado nated for seven Blues Foundation, Blues Music outside. But the sun is out and warming my and Brian Templeton, introducing me to John Awards and I am going down to Memphis to house and office. I know that this winter will Sheerar and Malford Mulligan. (WHERE have the Awards and I sure hope he wins all of them. end even though it is hard to believe. There are I been?) With the Cadillac Horns behind them plenty of HOT gigs for you to go to in this is- this is a strong Blues CD worthy of note. It is BaRNfUL Of BLUES We were lucky enough sue so I want you to shake off that winter dust a seriously swinging CD, and with Rick at the to secure Sugar Ray & The Bluetones as our and get out there and boogie! helm you know it is great. He reminds me so headliner for The Granite State Blues Society’s I am going to Memphis, with Nancy Weston, much of Wynonnie Harris’ style, I just love it! Barnful of Blues Festival on August 1st in New (it’s on her bucket list) on May 6th and we will Boston, NH. We are so excited to have this represent our cool New England Blues scene MICHELLE WILLSON You may have seen the top flight Blues band, no foolin’. You can get at the Awards and it will be my pleasure to see video of her singing with Dr. John on FB. We your $20 tickets now by going to the web site: Sugar Ray & The Bluetones perform on the are so proud of our Evil Gal, she is a star! She www.granitestateblues.org. The rest of our 7th. The brand new Blues Museum will have its seemed so comfortable and at ease on stage outstanding line-up is as follows: arthur James, grand opening that weekend and it should be with him. I asked her about the gig: “I sang sev- Delanie Pickering acoustic acts respectively, be- a fun celebration! I contributed to the building eral tunes, mostly from his newest release SKE- tween sets, acoustic, openers the Tokyo Tramps, of the museum and will have a plaque on a wall Dat-DE-Dat: THE SPIRIT Of SaTCH: “I’ve Mike Crandall Band (winners of GSBS Blues somewhere, I want to see that! You can con- Got The World On A String,” “When The Saints Go Challenge from CT), and Michelle Willson!! We tribute to the bluesfoundation.org if you want Marching In,” “Lay My Burden Down,” “Nobody are looking forward to a great day of plenty of to, as well. We will go to Graceland, the Civil Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen,” “Sweet Hunk O’ Blues, food, vendors, raffles, and fun in the sun. Rights Museum, Stax Records and maybe even Trash,” Pretty exalted company for this lil’ ol’ a trip to Clarkesdale (I might have relatives Evil Gal, huh?” I should say so, but we expect CONGRATULATIONS TO THE Love DOGS there, my middle name is Clarke, my mother’s nothing less from Michelle.!! Dr. John’s music celebrating their 21st birthday in March, “so I maiden name...I kid). I can’t wait, Memphis is director (and badass trombone player) Sarah guess we can drink now!” joked Ed. Well it’s fun, the clubs are open to the street and BB Morrow led the whole show and she is just about time! Eddie’s Tuesday All Stars series is King’s club is downtown, Rum Boogie has a amazing! Dan Moretti ( great sax man from thriving in our their home, The Corrib, and guitar signed by Ronnie Earl and there will be RI ) got Michelle that gig. She is doing a show they hope to be doing some Friday shows bands playing everywhere including on the street. I will tell you this, there is NO vegetable matter in Memphis, they think cheese is a veg- etable. It is all points BBQ this and BBQ that. I remember the last time I went to the Blues Awards I came home with such a hangover and so much meat in my stomach I gave up eating meat for 3 years and have never quite gotten back on the bandwagon or should that be chuck wagon. I will be taking pictures and video I will put a bunch of them on the new web site. I look forward to seeing Sugar Ray & The Bluetones win a bunch of awards. I am also hoping David Maxwell wins the Pinetop Perkins Award for piano, that will be bittersweet. It is our pleasure to bring you another article by Art Simas featuring Chris Vachon the guitar- ist and band leader of Roomful of Blues. He is so talented and versed in many styles of music which gives the band the ability to perform Michelle Willson pictured with Mac Rebenac (Dr. John) at The Wilbur all the songs they feel will entertain the audi- Theater in Boston, MA on February 25, 2015. You can see video on Youtube. ences. Jazz, Blues, New Orleans beats, they can -photo by Johnboy Franklin 2 Keeping the Blues coming to you, LIVE! thebluesaudience.com • The Blues Audience newsletter 2015 Notes from the Publisher there, starting this spring! Schedule on page 6. his love and respect for traditional Blues with hear a tune from. It is raucous fun! Featuring a present, colorful style of playing that is often Jimmy “2 suits” Capone, Eddie Scheer director/ HOUSE ROCKIN’ PRODUCTIONS is con- compared to James Cotton or Paul Butterfield. vocals (from the Love Dogs) Big Jack Ward, tinuing their shows at Pitman’s Freight Room in guitar (from Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson & The Laconia, NH. Here is a little info on upcoming TRIPLE THREAT BLUES CRUSADE is putting Magic Rockers) Johnny Juxo on keys (from performers for your information. JP Soars is on a special show at Chan’s. I thought you Racky Thomas Band) Randy Bramwell on bass not a typical Blues guitarist. He has a diverse should have some background info on them (from the Commander Cody Band) Mario Per- musical background that encompasses a multi- so here it is. They are a four piece band from rett on sax (from Peter Wolf band, Mighty Sam tude of influences.“I love T-bone Walker, Jesse South East New England (guitar, bass, sax, and McClain band & many others) Bobby Holfelder May Hemphill, Wes Montgomery, Django Re- drums) playing throughout New England for on trombone (from The Knickerbocker all- inhardt, Muddy Waters, Johnny Guitar Watson, many years. Winners of the 2013 Massachu- stars, Bellevue Cadillac Band) If “2 Suits” other Guitar Slim and Louis Jordan. But I also love setts Blues Challenge, they are releasing the Blues Bash Shows and annual Holiday shows Tito Puente, Miles Davis, Hank Williams, Black album SHE’S ONE OF A KIND the first Blues are any indication, this show will sell out.