uncensored, underground, blues news Issue 156 The Publication of the Linn County Blues Society- lcbs.org July 2007 Kicks Off Bluesmore 2007 raig Erickson’s newest release tive and inspirational sound. His earliest “Big Highway” is an appropriate musical influences were found growing Ctitle for the type of journey his up in a home with a jazz guitarist father musical career has taken him on. Born and piano teacher mother. Craig started and raised in the midwestern heartland cornet at age 8 and switched to guitar at of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, (which is con- 12. Fronting many bands in junior high nected to many highways t h a t and high school, composing and recording lead to midwestern music a vast number of songs on home demos meccas such as M i n - by age 16. He joined a fusion band at age neapolis, Chi- c a g o , 17 “Cirkus” playing guitar and keyboards. St. Louis, K a n s a s But, like many struggling musicians try- C i t y , M a d i s o n , ing to make a living, he played in a large etc.) Craig has number of cover bands, honing his for- drawn upon the inspi- midable guitar chops in a wild variety of ration of wide open spaces, styles including country, jazz, punk, funk, mysterious midnight highway folk, blues/rock, reggae and more. The excursions, and the nearby inten- mid-80’s found him teaching over 40 stu- sity of funky big city life. Mixing dents a week in styles from SRV Blues to styles and life influences into a Steve Vai and Van Halen shred. His dedi- stew of blues, rock, funk, jazz, fu- cation and determination lead him to the sion with a distinctive 70’s influence discerning ears of Mike Varney (the guitar akin to Cream, Hendrix, ZZ Top, Trower, Continued on page 5 Zeppelin, Johnny Winter, Tommy Bolin, Free, Frank Marino, and spicing it up We are excited once again to In this issue— with hints of more recent ingredi- have Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust ents such as Govt Mule, Derek as our main festival sponsor Craig Erickson Up Close Truck, Robert Randolph, KUNI Bicycle, Blues & BBQ! this year! A HUGE Bluesmore King’s X, Red Hot Chili Pep- thank you to CRB&T! Praire Dog Blues Fest Line-up! pers and others. From Rob- Kim Wilson at BBQ Round-Up ert Johnson to Eric Johnson, Chili Challenge Final Talley Chris Whitley to Shawn Big Mo’s CD Review Lane, Erickson draws from Local LIVE Entertainment many sources and his own in- Bluesmore Merchandise Special! tense life experience to forge Still No Karaoke a unique and somewhat addic- ©2007-Linn County Blues Society The Linn County Blues Society is a way cool, non-profit organization dedicated to Checker’s Prairie Dog the preservation of Blues music in Eastern Iowa as well as to provide charitable contri- “Best Damn Blues!” St. Feriole Island, WI butions to other community organizations. LCBS is an Affiliated Organization in the Blues Foundation’s international network. P. J. Harrington prairiedogblues.com The BLUESPAPER is a monthly publication of the LCBS. hat’s happening at Check- Friday, July 27, 2007 Website: lcbs.org ers tavern? The long awaited Bluesline: 319.399.5105 opening of our Outdoor Beer 5:00 PM The Tom Hunter Band W 7:00 PM Shannon Curfman LCBS Officers Garden. PLUS our Thursday evening out- 9:00 PM- Alvin Jett & the PhatnoiZ Blues President - Andy Dergo door live music nights starting at 5pm. Band Vice President - Evan Vulich Stop in and check out our line up begin- Secretary - Steve Springer 11:00 PM- Tab Benoit Treasurer - Sue Dergo ning July 12. Coming up yet this Blue TENT - Big Daddy Cade Sunday season: Clay McClinton, Lil Dave & The Blues Masters Directors at Large- Thompsen, Mem Shannon, Chubby Carri- Bob DeForest, Bill Meeks, Bob Dorr er, Studebaker John and more of the area’s Saturday, July 28, 2007 best damn Blues period. Only at Checkers Chairs Education - Open tavern & eatery. Do your part as a “Blues 12:00PM Everett Smithson Band 2:00PM - Kevin “B.F.” Burt Entertainment - Gary Gibson supporter” and get your butt off the couch Membership - Kevin Cutsforth & the Instigators and support it..... damn it. Without YOUR Merchandise - David Andrews 4:00PM - Mark Sallings constant support, the music WILL go Parliamentarian - Bill Meeks & the Famous Unknowns Program - Bob DeForest away! Then what? 6:00PM - Steve Arvey & The Saxtelles Public Relations - Open 8:00PM - Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials Web Administrator - Evan Vulich 10:00PM - Anthony Gomes TENT - Pete Cornelius (from Australia) The Bluespaper folks Daniel Arthur’s Editor - Evan Vulich Photographers - See bylines each issue Great food and beer. Vendors selling hand- Staff Writers - See bylines each issue made products and camping right on site. Blues in July Distribution - Andy Dergo, Bill Meeks Motel shuttles run to all motels in town. Jeff Craft -Tues. July 3, 8-10 Membership Kevin B.F. Burt -Thurs. July 5, 8 -11 Prairie Dog Blues Festival To learn more about the Linn County Blues Dennis Mcmurrin-Fri. July 6, 8-11 318 South Wacouta Avenue Society or to join, see the membership form in this Bluespaper or the LCBS website. BillyLee Janey Sat. July 7, 8 -11 Prairie du Chien, WI 53821 Phone toll-free: 888-567-1567 Your membership includes; Josh Misner - Tues. July 10, 8 -10 • Discount admissions to many local Billylee Janey Wed. July 11, 8-10:30 Blues activities. Kevin B.F. Burt - Thurs. July 12, 8 -11 • Monthly LCBS Bluespaper. • Voting rights in the LCBS elections. Billylee Janey - Fri. July 13, 8 -11 • Simply being way cool. Tony Brown - Sat. July 14, 8 -11 Matt Maybanks - Tues. July 17, 8 -10 Bluespaper Contact information Bryce Janey - Wed. July 18, 8 -10 Send news, band or club live entertainment listing or advertising to: Evan Vulich, 1116 Kevin B.F. Burt - Thurs. July 19, 8 -11 Daniels St. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 or Jason Brown - Fri. July 20, 8 -11 preferrably e-mail at: [email protected]. Bryce Janey - Fri. July 21, 8 -11 Nick Stika - Tues. July 24, 8 -10 Bluespaper Ad Rates $15.00 - Business card size - 2” x 3.5” Billy Janey-Wed. July 25, 8:30-10:30 $25.00 - Quarter page ad - 3.5” x 4.75” Kevin B.F. Burt - Thurs. July 26, 8 -11 $50.00 - Half page ad - 4.75” x 7.25” Matt Maybanks - Fri. July 27, 8 -11 $100.00 - Full page - 7.5” x 10” Tony Brown - Sat. July 28, 8 -11 The Rock-O-Rama will be held Submission Requirements- All ads, Tim Daugherty - Tues. July 31, 8 -10 on Friday, August 3 at Green photos or scanned images, either color Square Park. The Cedar Is- or black/white, need to be 300ppi. Native Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, JPG, TIFF, Looky! Looky! land Band will be playing from EPS, PDF, BMP accepted. Deadline for The LCBS meets the 1st Monday 5pm to 8pm. Must be 21 or submissions is the 23rd of the month. of each month. See you at Cooper’s Mill, old for admission. Admission Moving? Send your new address to; LCBS, Suite 116 on July 2, 6:30PM is $5.00 per person. This is a PO Box 2672, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-2672 for the LCBS Board & Member meeting. benefit concert for the Boys & so you won’t miss a single issue of your Guests are welcome! Bluespaper. 100 F Ave. NW • 366-5323 Girls Clubs of Cedar Rapids. 2 / Linn County Blues Society ©2007 Bicycle, Blues & BBQ Festival KUNI Night at Clear Lake-Sat. July 7 The Surf Ballroom KUNI Night at Clear Lake’s live performances and recordings, “Bicycle, Blues & BBQ” Festival her lyrics, soul and passion are all her Saturday, July 7, 2007 – 7 p.m. own. Kelley will be touring in support The Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, IA of a brand new release and this stop in Clear Lake serves as Kelley Hunt’s CD The Bicycle, Blues & BBQ festival release party, so don’t miss it! gets underway in Clear Lake on Fri- day, July 6 at 5:00 pm with food and CANDYE KANE: In the tradition of cycling vendors and culminates with none-too-shy, brassy, larger-than-life Candye Kane a USCF-sanctioned race on Sunday, flamboyant blues singers like Mem- July 8 at 7:30 am. Inflate those tires, phis Minnie, Bessie Smith, Big Mama Guitar’d and Feathered find your helmet and get biking! KUNI Thornton and Etta James comes CAN- Ruf Records Public Radio will participate in this DYE KANE. She sings of her life in a Release Date –May 22, 2007 Clear Lake event with a great night way audiences all over the world can of Blues beginning at 7:00 pm on relate to. Such candor, combined with Hold The Cheese Saturday, July 7 at the Surf Ballroom excellent showmanship and a crack- featuring a CD release party from erjack band has helped Candye Kane R&B pianist/vocalist KELLEY HUNT, rise in the world of the blues rather rap- That’s what I thought after Blues diva, CANDYE KANE in sup- idly. (See Big Mo’s review this month). Candye Kane’s last CD. Her port of her new release “Guitar’d and latest is less cheesy, shows Feathered,” and Iowa City’s ambas- DIPLOMATS OF SOLID SOUND fea- some restraint and refine- sadors of soul THE DIPLOMATS turing THE DIPLOMETTES: Steeped OF SOLID SOUND featuring THE in the sizzling, funky gumbo of Book- ment and “over the top” is DIPLOMETTES! er T & The MG’s, The Meters, James kept to a minimum.