Archived :: May 19, 2003
Hi Everybody!
I hope you all are doing well.
I'm sitting here plucking away at this newsletter, as Bonnie Raitt's performance at Footstock, finds its way through my open window. It's pretty cool! Right now she's playing that old Barbara George tune, "I Know".Footstock is a party thrown every year for the people who run in San Francisco's foot race Bay To Breakers. It's a big deal here .......70,000 people dressed in costumes running up and down the hills, acting like a bunch of fools. Every year some guy from Kenya runs in his bare feet and wins a new car. Anyway, this year is the first year they've charged for the entertainment. Every other year there has been no admission.....today, it's $20.00. I've caught a lot of great Footstock music for free, including Santana and Ray Charles.
Speaking of Ray Charles, don't forget to go to the Santa Cruz Blues Festival, next weekend 5/24 &25. In addition to Ray, my favorite, the line-up includes Howard Tate, Michael Burks, Jimmy Vaughan, Coco Montoya (featuring Steve Evans), Tinsley Ellis, and more! For more info call the Santa Cruz Blues Fest hotline: 831-479-9814; or go to Santa Cruz Blues Festival.
Tommy Castro, covers a song by Brother Ray, on his new CD GRATITUDE. The track is #2 "Come Back Baby" and it's getting a whole lot of airplay. GRATITUDE was reviewed in this month's edition of Blues Bytes. Earlier this week, Tommy taped an interview with Robb Morrison for his show "The Sunday Morning Brunch", on Wichita's Classic Rock station, 96.3 KRZZ. The interview airs 5/25/03 somewhere between 9:00AM and noon CDT; Also on Sunday 5/25, Tommy will be "live'" on "Sunday Night Blues with Beef Stew" at 7:30PM EDT on 106.9 WCCC, "The Rock" Hartford's #1 Rock station. A few of the spots to catch Tommy and the band: Blackeyed Sally's,Hartford, CT 5/25; The Bottomline, NYC, a double with Duke Robillard, 5/27; The Turning Point, Piermont, NY, 5/29; The State Theatre, Falls Church, VA, 5/30; and The Double Door, Charlotte, NC 6/04. For Tommys complete schedule go to his website: Tommy Castro
II went to Tower Records' website to see if they still had Anthony Gomes' (rhymes with homes)photo on their homepage. Well, it is no longer there but I did find out that his CD UNITY, on 33rd St. Records, is in the current top 1000 selling CDs for Tower. Not bad! UNITY is selling faster than ashtrays fill up. In addition to Tower, you may also buy UNITY at Borders (they asked if they could carry it). He's got a couple of Pitbulls, Tony Basile and Larry Gareau, running his street team. Anthony is coming to San Francisco on the 29th, and I'm so excited I could spit! I can't wait to see Roger. Some of his upcoming dates are: 5/20 at Adler Theater (his third date opening for BB King)in Davenport, IA; 5/29 Biscuits & Blues, San Francisco, CA; 5/30 &31, Eureka Springs' Basin Park Hotel, Eureka Springs, AR; 6/02, The Dead Goat Saloon, Salt Lake City, UT; 6/5 Boulder Station, Las Vegas; and 6/13 &14. If you really keep track of Anthony go to his website: Anthony Gomes
I knew you'd like Pauline York! She's working on her follow-up to BLACKBERRY WINE and it's gonna have everybody doin' backflips! The woman has a lot of talent. I can see it all now....reams of glossy paper and pages full of radio station call letters, huh? Pauline York Band.
FLAPPIN' MY JAW
.... Heart & Soul recording artist Randy McDonald and his debut release ON THE WILDSIDE received smashing reviews in in Suncoast Blues Societies, May/June issue of Twelve Bar Rag; and on Blues Bytes. Hey you over there on the other coast! Tune in to WFDU 89.1, Wed 5/25 at 12:30PM EDT, for Randy's interview with Bob Putignano. Randy McDonald
...Anthony Paule and his band, with the blues slingin' singin' Ms. Dee will be at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay, CA, Sun 6/8, 4-8PM PDT.
For more info: http://www.hmbbrewingco.com ; and Sat 6/14 at The Tradewinds, Cotati, CA 9:30PM-1:00AM. For more info go to http://www.Sonomatunes.com
...Three time Handy nominee, Detroit's reigning Queen of the Blues, Alberta Adams will be recording a new CD to be released on the Southern Florida based Blue Angel Records. Look for an early August street date.
...In the May issue of Music Connection Magazine, Tom Kidd interviews 33rd Street Records prez, Morty Wiggins. Check it out! Here
..."Where is James Harman?" many of you ask. Well, James is alive and very well. He's been holed up in the studio, workin' his bundle of joy off, writing, recording, and producing with Jerry Hall, at The Pacific Blues Recording Company. These boys have come up with some very exciting music, performed and recorded with traditional style and technique. Harman will continue working on his latest recording, next month, after he returns from his European tour.
WooooooooHooooooo! Trade your mid-winter blahs for some oohs & ahhs. Join me and a whole bunch of other wild and wonderful people when we go Bluesin' on the High Seas. Make your reservations now for the 2004 Lgendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. A festival where everyone has a backstage pass! Artists include Taj Mahal, Susan Tedeschi, Little Milton, Roomful of Blues, Charlie Musselwhite, Derek Trucks, Tommy Castro, Walter Wolfman wash, Curtis Salgado, Rosie Ledit, Anthony Gomes<, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Doug MacLeod, Todd Sharpville, special guests, and ME! C'mon! We set sail from Tampa, FL, Feb. 7 and return on Feb. 14. Get on it now! For reservations & info call: 1888-bluesin or go to Blues Cruise
COMING FROM ME TO YOU, REAL SOON!
Fuel 2000 releases......FRIENDS IN THE CAN/ Canned Heat featuring Taj Mahal, and John Lee Hooker; and BRING ON THE BLUES/ Cory Stevens
Pacific Blues Recording Company......Aint No Doubt About It / Jamie Wood featuring James Harman; THIS ROAD IS MINE/ Nathan James featuring James Harman and Ben Hernandez; and SOUL DEEP/ Lee McBee
Under The Radar Music Group....WAY DOWN DEEP INSIDE by Australian Roots trailblazer Harper
and FROM THE HEART/ Albert Cummings
Distant Farmer...ATOMIC ELECTRIC/ Microwave Dave & the Nukes
Halo & Horns Records...SPREADIN' MY WINGS/ Susan Angeletti
My, aren't I the busy girl?
Well, I have to quit now. Remember......don't put both feet into one sock.....huh?
Peace!......I mean it... Peace dammit!
Ciao For Now,
Christine