Illinois Blues - www.IllinoisBlues.com - Blues news across the USA.

Homemade Jamz’ Blues Band consists of 3 young siblings. Ryan Perry (15 yrs old) lead guitar & vocals, Kyle Perry (13 years old) bass guitar and Taya Perry (9 years old) drummer. They won second place at the 2007 International Blues challenge, not too bad for a band whose combined ages at the time was only 35!

So you are skeptical that these youngsters can understand and play the Blues with the BIG BOYS? Don't be!

CBS News Sunday Morning did a feature story about them last weekend. If you missed it, CLICK HERE to see these kids in action. The piece includes some footage of their performance last winter at the the International Blues Challenge finals. You won't believe what you hear. If you want to see more of them, CLICK HERE to go to a bunch of their videos on Youtube.com

Juke Joint Video is a site featuring several full song videos of various blues artists including Anthony Gomes, Holms Brothers, Guitar Shorty, Curtis Salgado, Kubek/ Piccolo, Charlie Musselwhite, Nora Jean Bruso, Slick Ballinger, Blind Miss Morris, Tab Benoit, Michael Powers, Kenny Neal, Hubert Sumlin, Greg Piccolo, Sherri Williams, Michael Burks, Willy Kent, Tommy Castro, Larry McCray, and others. This is not really a streaming site and theses are large videos that take awhile to download and start playing. (Not a good situation if you have a dial-up internet connection!)
To go right to their Blues videos page, CLICK HERE

Other IMPORTANT News Help Save the music! CLICK HERE to Keep Blues Radio Alive!

James “Skyy Dobro” Walker , noted Blues writer and Blues Blast contributor reviews a new CD by The Rounders - Wish I Had You

Some 17 years down the road, elements of the music from the North Mississippi hills country has evolved. It’s been copied, been innovated, been blended, and in some cases been improved upon, like in this album by five kids from Oklahoma City, The Rounders. The Rounders are singer Brian Whitten, guitarists Ryan Taylor and Michael Stone, percussionist Stu Williamson and bassist Dave Spindle.

The indigenous music that comes from the hills of North Mississippi was introduced to the Blues audience at large right after 1990 by Robert Palmer’s book and subsequent film of the same name, Deep Blues. The emergence of the Fat Possum Records label then exposed and brought those artists (like R.L. Burnside and Junior kimbrough) to us on CD. One of their Various Artists’ CDs was titled, Not the Same Old Blues Crap, and indeed, the music was different from what most Blues fans were accustomed. The music from the North Mississippi hills has been described as unique rural music that is electric, raw, stripped-down, polyrhythmic, droning, and powerful blues.

Wish I Had You combines hills country and urban Blues, roots-based indie Rock, and traditional and alt Country into an exciting sound that paradoxically sounds familiar and fresh simultaneously. In 2000, a band of high-school dreamers dedicated their efforts to become a uniquely true, blues-based Rock band, The Rounders. The boys avoided the pitfall of being another Texas Blues rock band modeled after Stevie Ray Vaughan, and went after a sound filled with reverence for Hills drone, Delta, and Chicago Blues styles. Six years into a career filled with praise from both the indie-rock press and the blues world, The Rounders follow up with their first release for Blind Pig Records, Wish I Had You.

All 13 songs are originals (most by Ryan Taylor), and there is enough variety on the CD to please. Don’t like a song? Just go to the next one. Truly a highlight of the CD is the blending of baritone vocals with guitar tones often with Whitten singing each word in the same note as played simultaneously on guitar like in the opening song, “God Knows I'm Tryin’” and “When It’s Bad.”

Fans of the North Mississippi Allstars will enjoy the 4^th track, “You Know Better Than That.” Play “Guess the Band” with a friend by playing the first 20 seconds. The clear-as-a-bell twin guitar harmony leads will have them guessing NMA or Allman Brothers.

For harmonica laced blues, guest Dustin Arbuckle wails on “Wait For Me” while “Through No Fault of My Own” is a slow cooker that often boils over with harp and welling guitars. Then for a change of pace, try a little swing above a railroad rhythm on “Oh, My Dear Mind.”

Variety, yes, but, the songs fit well together. No matter if you’re a dyed-in-the-wool blues purist or a young musical adventurer; this album kills both.

The SOPRO record label lives in a small Southwest suburb of Chicago. The SOPRO family of artists includes The Chicago Horns, Deb Seitz and The Sho’ Nuff Blues Band in its illustrious evolution.

Twice a year, at Easter and Thanksgiving, SOPRO’s Buddy Monaco brings his army of talent together for a full-on blues revue. The venue has been Tommy’s Place in Blue Island (another South suburb of Chicago). Tommy’s is an excellent live music venue with a great stage, and professional lighting and sound. At the same time, it is still a bar (as in tavern). There are so many blues acts I would love to see there, but the owner insists (all together now) “The blues doesn’t pay the rent.”

Kenny Anderson, trumpeter was the man of the hour on this, the twenty-fifth anniversary revue, as he has been with SOPRO for the whole twenty-five years. Kenny is part of the famous four part horn ensemble The Chicago Horns. Kenny is joined by Bill McFarland, Hank Ford and Tony Ferraro.

Special guest Tallon “T-Man” Latz was worth trip all by himself. This eight year old from Wisconsin (which is also a suburb of Chicago) amazed the crowd with chops belying his youth. On a stage riser SOPRO made especially for him, T-Man matched the big guys lick for lick, and even sang some blues for us. Keep your eyes and ears open for this guitar slinger.

In recent years the backbone of the SOPRO bands have been Patrick Doody (drums), John “EADG” Falstrom (bass), “Hollywood” Johnny Cosgrove (guitar), Joey Drada (guitar) and Tony Caccitolo (percussion). Fronting the band in turn where Joe Jammer, Harpist Doug Lee and Chicago’s First Lady of the Blues, Deb Seitz.

It was fun watching Doug and Joe dueling with T-Man. There are some great pictures in the ChicagoBluesBeat.com gallery of the extra-tall Joe Jammer trying to get eye-to-eye with the boy wonder.

After backing up T-Man, Doug Lee stayed on to sing and play harp. My highlight of the evening was the Deb Seitz part of the show. Riverside Rob Draganski, who had appeared at the Easter SOPRO revue, was taken from us suddenly at only 22 year of age. Deb Seitz dedicated her version of “Summertime” to his memory. Between her impassioned voice and Tony Ferraro’s beautiful sax accompaniment, the SRO crowd was a collective goose bump.

Now you know the reason I look forward to Thanksgiving and Easter. Please have look at SOPRO’s catalog so you can take the above musicians home with you.

Willie King DVD Released!

Dutch film-makers Saskia Rietmeijer and Bart Drolenga of Visible World Films came to America with the intention of producing a documentary about African American arts and culture in the deep South. When they met Willie King, they decided instead to devote their efforts to creating a DVD about Willie's life and times.

Over a period of several months, the couple recorded Willie King as he worked with his community in Pickens County and performed at festivals, juke joints and parties.

The DVD is a fascinating collage of Willie King's life and many activites, illuminated by searing live performances and interviews with his family and friends. It enables the viewer to experience what it is like to be a modern bluesman living in the Alabama Black Belt, "down in the woods."

To Purchase this DVD Now CLICK HERE

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Upcoming Blues

Be sure to check our Blues Society News section and our Blues Fans & Friends section below (Scroll Down) for upcoming live Blues performances by James Armstrong, Shawn Kellerman, Lil Dave Thompson and others in areas around the US. Also check the IllinoisBlues.com Live Blues show listings for a show near you! CLICK HERE

Support Live Blues near you by attending one of these events!

Featured Events

Quad-Cities "only Blues" venue!

3303 Brady St. Davenport, Iowa * MAP * (563) 324-4619

No Cover Charge!

Friday, December 7th 5:00 p.m. Jack Wessels 8:00 p.m. Creekside Allstars

Sunday, December 9 8:00 p.m. Steady Rolling Blues Band

Friday, December 14 5:00 p.m. Jack Wessels Band 9:00 p.m. Creekside Allstars

Sunday, December 16 8:00 p.m. Steady Rolling Blues Band

3207 N University Peoria IL 61604
Located in the Community Bingo Building
309-681-1241

Upcoming Blues Bands

Thursday December 6th - Doran & the Soul Mystics Friday December 7th - Rockin' Jake Band Saturday December 8th - Toronzo and the Cannonball Express (From Chicago) Thursday December 13th - The Judy Page Band Friday December 14th - Phat Noiz Blues Band (from St. Louis) Saturday December 15th - The Johnny Burnett Band (From Chicago) Thursday December 20th - The Brown Sugar Band Friday December 21st - Doran & the Soul Mystics Saturday December 22nd - Ivas John Blues Band Thursday December 27th Brainchild

Blues Society News

Illinois Central Blues Club Springfield, IL - Blue Mondays

The Alamo 115 N 5th St, Springfield, IL (217) 523-1455 8:30pm $2 cover

December 10 James Armstrong December 17 Sally Weisenburg & The Famous Sidemen

Blues Blowtorch Society - Bloomington, IL presents

Shawn Kellerman - NV Ultra Lounge Downtown Normal, Illinois

December 6th 2007 from 8 PM to 11 PM:
Admission $5.00 non members, $3.00 Members of Blues Blowtorch Society

ALSO: The Blues Blowtorch Society Christmas party will be held at
Cheeks Pub, on Towanda Avenue Blvd In Bloomington Illinois December 13th 2007 (Thursday Night) at 7 PM
Admission is: $2.00 or two or more cans of food and all will be donated to Chaire House
Steve "The Harp" Blues Band will Host an open blues jam from 7 to 10 pm

Mississippi Valley Blues Society - Davenport, IA presents

MVBS Holiday Party December 8th - Lil Dave Thompson at Blueport Junction

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society will hold an open-to-the-public Holiday Party on Saturday, December 8. Music by Lil Dave Thompson will begin at 8:30 p.m. at Blueport Junction 6605 West River Drive, Davenport IA 563 326-2151. Admission is $5.00, with MVBS members getting raffle tickets.

Lil Dave Thompson is one of the best of the next generation of the blues. David Lonzo Thompson is a self-described “third or fourth generation Delta bluesman” whose father played with many of the Delta legends, including Asie Payton and James “Son” Thomas. Lil Dave was born in 1969 in Hinds County, Mississippi, and came up in such legendary locales as Moorhead, Indianola and Leland, Mississippi. He formed his first band at the age of fourteen, later toured with the late, great Booba Barnes, and cut a couple of CDs on the Fat Possum label in the mid 1990s, which garnered him two Handy Award nominations. With guitar skills described as part Albert King, part Little Milton, this young man is sure to take everyone’s mind off the old red and green, and get it back where it belongs, in the blues. Blueport Junction is located on W. River Drive (US 61), just east of the intersection with I-280.

Send your Society's BIG news or Press Release to:

Delta Dale A... Giving music lessons in my home: (In the comfort of my sunny bright sunroom near downtown Green Bay,WI. Well stocked with over thirty instruments and amps, PA system, computer, video, etc...)

Slide guitar and tunings (open G, open D, etc)...Opening tunings and fingerstyle (Hawaiian slack key, DADGAD, DADDAD, DGDGBD, DADF#AD, etc)... Delta blues (Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton, early Muddy waters)... Finger picking(Travis, use of thumb & finger picks)... UKULELE, yes I now give Uke lessons! (I have a huge uke collection!) Music theory, chord relationships, circle of fifths, transposing keys, etc...

I taught blues, slide and old time guitar at University of Wisconsin Green Bay last summer for 60 students grade 8-12 from all over the USA. I worked with a team of six music teachers hailing from Michigan, Maryland, Minnesota and Wisconsin. I will be there again next summer July 27 through August 1! See: https://www.uwgb.edu/camps/

I'm looking to get a good schedule of students, young and old... Give me a call! 920-562-0018 Thanks! Dale Anderson www.myspace.com/thedeltajets

Gorgeous 1998 Alembic Essence 4 string bass (with gig bag and locking strap) with a Bocate top, Mahogany body, Ebony fretboard, Maple neck with Walnut stripes, and a Walnut tone plate between the top and body. No alterations of any kind. It has active electronics which uses a "Tone Filter" instead of the usual bass and treble controls. With this one control you can create an AMAZING amount of usable tones. The pickups are the MXYAlembic "activators". There is also a "pan" control and "volume" control. I believe this is the best type of electronics for Alembics basses. This professional bass is in top condition! $1500.00. evulich@mchsi.com 319.365.2686

Harmonica/Vocalist/award winning Songwriter seeking guitar player in and around Springfield, IL area to arrange and record and gig when possible. Serious inquiries only. Drummer and bassist would also be wonderful. Heavily influenced by the Electric Blues of late 40s and 50s Chicago and 60's soul/R&B. Musical influences include but are not limited to Magic Sam, Muddy Waters, Albert King, early Kent sides of B.B. King, Little Walter, Junior Wells, Big Walter Horton, Slim Harpo, Carey Bell, Elmore James, Paul Butterfield, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, and many others. Please email bluesman2383@yahoo.com if any of this sounds like a serious pursuit for you. I would like to gig locally and travel a bit. Looking to record this winter and the early part of next year.

Veteran of Peoria, IL area music scene now available for work. Can play harmonica, guitar, mandolin, and Grandma's washboard. Love all styles of music, electric and acoustic. Willing to work with any size group ( Duo, trio, etc ). If you feel you're missing something, let me add it for you. Have references. Contact me at brianstear@sbcglobal.net

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