I read the news today, oh boy!I read the today, news Issue 166 The Publication of the Linn County Blues Society- lcbs.org May 2008 Checkers has da blues! da has Checkers at at Shannon Mem chicken in the very in the chicken Checkers? neardining at Fine future. includeexpanding his food menu burgers to and broasted the Checkerson finising renovations kitchen areawas and It was overheard at Checkers that P.J. said he was that Checkers at overheard was It P.J. that Checkers tavern CEDAR RAPIDS,IA. checkerstavern.com In this blue issue — Cover photos: Mem Shannon at Checkers Jim Kern gets cool shirt from LCBS! Chicago Blues Fest lineup! Big Mo’s CD Review The ubiquitous Bill Ray was there to capture Mem Shannon and the Mem- Eddy Clearwater & Ernie Peniston photos bership band and many more bands at Checkers Tavern with his trusty, little Studebaker John, Tornadoes photos Kodachrome camera.” When I think back on all the crap I learned in high Blues at Liars Theatre school...” Local LIVE Music Schedules — Paul Simon ©2008-Linn County Blues Society The Linn County Blues Society is a way cool, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Blues music in The gift that keeps on giving Eastern Iowa as well as to provide charitable contributions to other commu- nity organizations. LCBS is an Affiliated LCBS presents Jim Kern the Bluesmore shirt Organization in the Blues Foundation’s international network. The BLUESPAPER is a monthly publication of the LCBS. Website: lcbs.org LCBS Officers President - Andy Dergo Vice President - Evan Vulich Secretary - Steve Springer Treasurer - Sue Dergo Directors at Large- Bob DeForest, Bill Meeks, Bob Dorr Chairs Education - Open Entertainment - Greg West Membership - Kevin Cutsforth Merchandise - David Andrews The Bluespaper & LCBS folks Editor - Evan Vulich Photographers - See bylines each issue Staff Writers - See bylines each issue Distribution - Andy Dergo, Bill Meeks Parliamentarian - Bill Meeks Program - Bob DeForest Public Relations - Open Web Administrator - Evan Vulich Membership Andy Dergo, president of the Linn County Blues Society, presents Brucemore To learn more about the Linn County director, Jim Kern with a custom embroidered shirt bearing the Bluesmore lion. Blues Society or to join, see the member- Needless to say, Jim was quite thrilled upon receiving his own personal Blues- ship form in this Bluespaper or the LCBS website. Your membership includes; more shirt. Jim has stood with the LCBS at the very inception of Bluesmore to • Discount admissions to many local make it the success that it is. David Andrews, our merchandise chair, thought Blues activities. this would be a very appropriate way to simply say ‘thank you’ for all of your • Monthly LCBS Bluespaper. years of hard work with the LCBS and the Bluesmore festival. • Voting rights in the LCBS elections. • Simply being way cool. Bluespaper Contact information Send news, band or club live entertain- Sean Costello ment listing or advertising to: Evan Vulich, 1979 - 2008 Tomaso’s 1116 Daniels St. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 or preferrably e-mail at: evulich@ Blues Blast magazine from Illinois- Pizza mchsi.com. Blues.com has just received word Bluespaper Ad Rates of the death of Blues guitarist Sean $15.00 - Business card size - 2” x 3.5” Costello. His booking agency Pied- 364-4313 $25.00 - Quarter page ad - 3.5” x 4.75” mont Talent and his record company $50.00 - Half page ad - 4.75” x 7.25” Delta Groove Productions report $100.00 - Full page - 7.5” x 10” that Sean died in an Atlanta hotel Official Pizza Submission Requirements- All ads, April 15. No further details are avail- of Bluesmore! photos or scanned images, either color able at this time He would have been or black/white, need to be 300ppi. Native Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, JPG, TIFF, 29 on April 16. He will be missed 3234 Center Point Rd. EPS, PDF, BMP accepted. Ads created in His newest CD “We Can Get To- Word may cause constipation. Deadline gether” was just released in Febru- for submissions is the 19th of the ary. It was reviewed in the February month. 13th issue of the Blues Blast maga- Moving? Send your new address to; zine. LCBS, PO Box 2672, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-2672 so you won’t miss a single issue of your Bluespaper. 2 / Linn County Blues Society ©2008 Chicago Blue Festival Lineup announced! June 5-8 illinoisblues.com ell them you heard it here first Ruby Andrews, Cicero Blake, Sugar because we have BIG news for Pie DeSanto, Willie Henderson, Eddy Tyou this week. We are pleased “The Chief” Clearwater, Ronnie Bak- to be the first to release the entire line- er Brooks, Otis Clay, Koko Taylor and up for the Chicago Blues Festival. Her Blues Machine, Shorty Mack and For their 25th year, they have went the Magnificent R&B Blues Band, ALL OUT to bring you so much Blues Liz Mandville and the Blue Points, talent it boggles the mind. We have the Charles Hayes and the Hayes Family complete schedule on our website at: Band, Otis Taylor, Don Vappie, Guy Samuel James Songs Famed for Sorrow and Joy illinoisblues.com/chicago2008.htm. Davis, John Hammond, Milwaukee Northern Blues (It is not posted on their Festival web- Blues All Stars, Stokes and Milwau- Release Date – April 1, 2008 site yet!) kee Slim, Bumble Bee Bob, Chick Rogers, PG Man, Theodis Ealey Time Warp The lineup includes Katherine Davis, (Brothers Reunion), Cedric Burnside, Erwin Helfer, Eric Noden, the Stone Little Malcolm, T-Model Ford, Rosa’s The best music gets you to for- Academy Blues All Stars, Fernando All Star Jam Band Featuring James get where you are and to take a Jones Columbia College Blues En- Wheeler, Steve Arvey, Quintus Mc- trip with the musician. Samuel semble, David “Honey Boy” Edwards, Cormick, Guitar Red, Lil Ed and the James takes you back in time Billy Branch, Louisiana Red, Paul Blues Imperials, Barbara Lynn with in an old school blend of great Kaye, Aron Burton, Johnny Yard Dog Lil’ Buck and the Buckaroos, Buck- songs and delivery without be- Jones, Pinetop Perkins, Willie Smith, wheat Zydeco, Victory Travelers, Ma- ing a revivalist. James (not out of his 20’s) learned harmonica from Bob Margolin, Bob Stroger, Kenny rie Knight, Tony Joe White, Davell street musicians while stranded Smith, Inetta Visor, Nuwki Nu, Keith Crawford, LaVelle White, Geraldine in Ireland without plane fare back Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band, and Donald Gay, Davell Crawford, to his native Maine. He sounds Little Willie Littlefield, Patricia Scott Paul Geremia, John Boutte, Rodney like he’s worked hard perfecting w/J.W. Williams, Big Ray and Chica- Brown, Big James Montgomery and his guitar/banjo/harmonica/piano go’s Most Wanted, Sharon Lewis and the Playboys, Charles Wilson, Kenny styles and vocals in a very short Texas Fire, L.C. Ulmer, Jimmy Burns Smith, Dancin’ Perkins, Larry Hoff- time. He could work some on his Blues Band, Piano C. Red, Charles man, Nate Lawrence, Karen Carroll, whistling, but I digress. His songs ‘Wsir’ Johnson, Jim O’Neal , Louis Charlie Love, Lurrie Bell, Bobby are the real stars on this CD. They Jordan, Tommy McClennan, Hammie Parker and B.B. King. peek into situations that may have happened long ago with humor, Nixon, Big Time Sarah, Duke Robil- grace, wit, intelligence and sad- lard, Plas Johnson, Red Holloway, YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IT ness and makes them parallel our Johnny Winter, James Cotton, Jo Jo THIS TIME!!!! lives. He paints wonderful pic- Murray and Joy Hills, Peaches and the You have heard all the stories from tures in your head with his com- Groove Shakers, Tear Drop Sessions, the first one….Now you have the bination of great guitar that either Little Arthur Duncan, Les Getrex and chance to be a part of history…. grinds and thumps or is as light a Creole Cookin’, Omar Shariff , Bryan For the 2nd ever feather and his expressive voice. LCBS “DINE & BLUES” Lee & the Blues Power Band, Joe B This guy could keep me fasci- TUSCAN MOON GRILL, nated with a cardboard box and a Band, Larry Taylor’s West Side Blues KALONA. & Soul Band, The Taylor’s Family stick. Great music and style gets SATURDAY MAY 3, 6-10PM, five big ol’ stars. Band, Rising Star Fife and Drum fea- turing the Thomas Family, Afrissisp- ERNIE PENISTON BAND —John Heim (A.K.A. “Big Mo”) pi, Harmonica Hinds, Jimmy John- son, Howard Mandel, Bill Milkowski, Come join in the fun!! Lonnie Brooks, Bob Porter, Ernest For transportation details contact Dine & Blues! Dawkins, Bill Gilmore and Bill Dahl, David at 294-8726 ©2008 Linn County Blues Society / Checkers & Riverside Casino host some of the area’s hottest Blues bands! Studebaker John from Chicago and Iowa City’s the Tornadoes, Ernie Peniston tudebaker John and the Hawks for continuing to bring great blues groups performed at Checkers Tavern in to his pub and eatery. You can spend a SCedar Rapids on a Sunday night, lot of money and travel afar to hear the April 13th. The small crowd who attend- “blues greats” (and I suppose everyone ed and stayed until 10 PM experienced a should see them at least once,) but often rare treat of blues perfection and a mas- the best and least expensive musical treats terful performance by the band. happen right here in our own tow. From the Chicago area, Studebaker John (Grimaldi) has been playing blues for thirty years and has ten albums under The Tornadoes his belt. His youthful appearance and energetic The Tornadoes played five new playing style belie his deep understand- songs, including a vocal duet of ing of the origins and power of basic blues that he heard on Maxwell Street in “You Came A Long Way From St.