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Sunday, December 23rd, 2007 6:51 PM PST
FRIDAY, DEC. 28 - OH GRADY'S, GRANADA HILLS
Steve, Adam and I meet up at Oh Grady's ready for a rockin' weekend.
the weather is great and we really have New Years all weekend. The gear set up, we rip into the tunes. M is behind the bar, handles this place quite well. I like two nights at the same club, you get to leave the gear set up. I know a lot of people here so people drop by over the weekend and say Hey. Steve and I are trying to figure out Auld Lang Syne. Hmmm, what are those chords?
SATURDAY, DEC. 29 - OH GRADY'S, GRANADA HILLS
David is here tonight and we get talking about the stock market and guitars, some how they go together. In walks my bud Kathy A. and her very cool friend the biker photo gal. Carter a local guitar player friend of mine stop by their table to say hello. Feels like a New Years eve party here tonight. this club Rocks. Thank you Sherry for building a great room.
MONDAY, DEC. 31 - FOUR OLIVES, LONG BEACH
I pull up and start to move the gear off the truck, Doug the owner is here and balloons are everywhere. They have to be tied to a net up above everything. Adam, Steve and I are wearing suits and ties tonight. Two shows, one at 7pm with a East coast Auld Lang Syne and then we start over with a new sitting of guests and play a show from 10pm to midnight, with a west coast celebration at midnight. The place goes off tonight, drinking, singing, dancing, the food here is super good. Adam and Steve are having fun, talking with everyone and we have learned the big song and play it well. A fun night and I had many friends here tonight. Just a great New Years Eve 2007 - 08. Thank you to everybody here tonight for both shows.
Special thanks to all my friends and music fans for a huge 2007!
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Sunday, December 16th, 2007 7:37 AM PST
THURSDAY, DEC. 20 - VOODOO LOUNGE in HOUSE OF BLUES,
ANAHEIM
Christmas week in downtown Disney. The lights are up and everything is classic Disney. They do fireworks here every night for the park guests. We do two security checks to get in and then pull up to the House of Blues backstage entrance. This is a fun gig because people are visiting from all over and they are on vacation. We start at 10pm and play until after midnight, mostly just have fun with everybody and play blues which they like here on Thursdays. Rich S. is on drums and he plays great blues beats, Steve lays down some walking blues lines.
It is cold tonight or I would walk up and down main street enjoying Disneyland. Do you remember how much fun you had the very first time you visited this park. My high school class took buses all the way from Northern California to Disneyland park for an allnighter. The park was closed and only open to students celebrating graduation. It was a lot of fun.
FRIDAY, DEC. 21 - MONGO'S in GROVER BEACH
After checking into the haunted motel, we drive over to the club. This is a cool room near the beach. Micheal is here and the ribs on special are outstanding. Talking with a friend from Clovis about football and it seems that the Clovis High school team in number one in the state. I am not sure about this, however Fresno state is excellent as well. So ok central Cali has hard hitting football and they have this amazing coastline around Pismo and Moro Bay. SLO is a wonderful town filled with lots of bluesrock fans and with the club filling up we rip into the tunes. Later we are stopped at a police check point on Grand avenue. No problems and we roll back to the haunted motel. Ghosts of people lost at sea off the coast haunt the rooms. Just kidding.
SATURDAY, DEC. 22 - VINNY"S in CHOWCHILLA
Today we stop at Avila beach and walk out onto the pier. Beautiful weather and miles of blue ocean. This is one of the best kept secrets in the area. Huge Sea lions bask in the sun, you can walk right up to them. Don't touch, they wait for the fishing fleet to come in and have dinner at the end of the day. Fantastic, I take some photos as we walk along this very old pier. Pulling into Fresno later we have some dinner and drive to Vinny's in Chowchilla. It is Vinny's Christmas party and lots of people and eats and dancing. What a blast. This is a famous old Central Vally town and the buildings tell the story. Tonight goes well and we plan to return. Central California is going to grow a lot in the near future.
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Monday, December 10th, 2007 5:35 PM PST
THURSDAY, DEC. 13th - SWALLOWS INN, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
Matt L. is on board for drums with Steve M. and myself. We drive down the 405 freeway which is a parking lot this time of day. Pulling up to this historic club there is already a crowd. This bar has been open nonstop for over 50 years. It is the heart of the seaside town and has had many country music stars perform here. Tonight there is a wide mix of every type of music fan bar goer. They like to dance here and we start hitting the tunes. There is a request for two step songs, we don't know two step country songs, I'm sure we could play it if we heard some of the songs. More cowboy hats than I've seen at my shows ever. I like Hank Williams Jr. so I can play stuff that works in a room like this. By the end of the night everybody is having a great time and the club asks us to play here again. I enjoyed this California experience. There is western country folks even in San Juan Capistrano, right next to the beach.
FRIDAY, DEC. 14th - HARLEY'S, SAN BERNARDINO
Tonight Gary R. is subbing for Steve Mc. on bass. Matt L. and I drive through very thick traffic wondering how it will be in the future in Southern California. I mean it took three hours to drive from LA to San Bernardino, about one hour if you had a clear run. This is a nice sports bar and the owner is very cool to us and says order a steak dinner on the house for each musician. We set up and rip into the tunes with a cool group of people from Oklahoma in town at a front table. Plenty of room and a good sound we are jamming and Gary and Matt are doing alright for there first shows with me. I play over 40 songs a night and it is a lot to memorize. We are soon on our way back to LA and at 2am the traffic is light and you can move right along. What a difference. LA is in need of a major mass transit system. Pulling up to Matt's place in old South Pasadena the buildings are old southern California, beautiful old two and three story buildings from the 30's and 40's. Southern Cali is an amazing place, they say during the 50's it was small town and local feeling. If you look close and around you can see the way it used to be.
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Monday, December 3rd, 2007 8:51 AM PST
FRIDAY, DEC. 7 - JJ's BLUES, SAN JOSE
With Adam touring with the Red Elvis's, Matt Oloffson is playing drums for these dates. Traveling to San Jose I am getting down with a wicked cold and start to lose my voice. we set up and rip into the tunes, cold or no cold I like JJ's and Dave West does great sound, so my guitar sounds rippin. Matt and Connie show up from Twain Harte and give the band support to play hard. Johnnie is here to wish the band good holidays, so we play past 1am. Special thanks to my friends for their support.
SATURDAY, DEC. 8 - LOU'S PIER 47, SAN FRANCISCO
The Railroad Cafe crew serve the best food, Ernie, Jo, Cindy, Janet and Ally. I am feeling better already. We drive into the city, looking forward to a fun night. Lou's is jammed with people visiting S.F. Lots of action, i love meeting all the people from Minn. tonight. Everybody is in town for the 49ers / Vikings game. The crowd gets loud and we all Rock tonight. Football season is the best!
SUNDAY, DEC. 9 - HENFLING'S, BEN LOMOND
i had brought along the soundtrack to the movie Elizabethtown, produced by Cameron Crowe and his wife Nancy Wilson from Heart.
The music is terrific and is perfect to drive along listening to. The truck is gliding through the Santa Cruz mountains on highway 17, past green trees and dirt roads to the back country. I think Neil Young has a big ranch up here. Ben Lomond is a small village with everything you need. We cross the street after set up and get dinner from the market. All hot prepared foods, like you could get in any big city. Back at the club there is a birthday party going on, nice crowd to play music for. My good friends Scott and Lynn drop by and it is a great vibe with these two. Lynn has brought two very nice Christmas gifts, one is a painting she has done. beautiful art work. Thank you very much for your gifts Lynn!
Rod W. is a red hot drummer from Monterey and I ask him to sit in and he blows us away with his chops. he claims all the gigs have got him rippin' these days. My voice is a little horse, beat up from three shows in a row, but after food and seeing everybody I'm into playing music. The Holidays are here and Henfling's has all locals tonight, very cool!
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Sunday, November 25th, 2007 11:25 AM PST
FRIDAY, NOV. 30 - BLUE HERON, COARSEGOLD
Adam, Steve and I travel to Fresno in the central California valley. After check in we are on our way up highway 41 to a fun bar called the Blue Heron. This is our first Friday here, we usually play on Sunday's. The crowd is great here and we hit it off from our first show. Dave Henderson sits in on vocals and Scott the sax player sits in too. Both are very talented and crowd favorites. We have a super time with lots of fun. Steve the bass player would like to move here to live.
SATURDAY, DEC. 1 - BIG DADDY"S, TWAIN HARTE
After breakfast I am on the phone to my friend Bob C. in Sonora as we travel north on Highway 99. The weather is great this weekend as we play to drive up to 4,000feet elevation. Bob invites us to breakfast on Sunday and we plan to see lots of friends from school this weekend.
Jim M. and his brother Jeff are in town for his birthday and after the gear is set up we are all off to tour the area with Connie at the wheel who knows the town. The mountains are a wonderful experience and tonight everybody is enjoying the music and the beginning of winter. Big Daddy's has an outdoor smoker on wheels and the food is great. I meet a super blues couple John Thomas and his lady and the evening is a lot of fun.
SUNDAY, DEC. 2 - BIG DADDY"S, TWAIN HARTE
Bob and Silvi host a breakfast get together for the band and we start the day right. excellent food and we are soon off to visit Matt and Connie on a great weather day. Cold but clean and clear. Pine trees deep into the forest with blue sky. The show is early today and my friends from school are here, many photos later the music is jamming and everyone takes a turn at dancing and singing along. A friend from school, Jana Evans joins the band on stage and sings a fantastic version of Stormy Monday for the club and blows everyone away. A quick shout out to long time friends, Jim A., Dirk H. Mark K. and his wife and Tim F. and many more long time friends. Thank you so much for a super visit to Twain Harte. After the show we load up and before the excitement wears off we are in Los Angeles. Wow!
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Monday, November 19th, 2007 9:08 AM PST
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23 & 24 - OH GRADY'S, GRANADA HILLS
Rockin' the Blues in southern Cali! nice to be in town for the Holiday. Rich, Steve and I bring some good grooves to this bar. I have made some friends here this year and over the two nights they stop by to say hello. This club is old school with a feel for the way things have always been here in the valley. It reminds me of when I am traveling. Towards the end of each night things get loose and the band gets a chance to Rip. Really one of the best bars in Southern Ca. Thank you Sherry!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!
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Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 9:42 AM PST
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16th - LOU'S PIER 47, SAN FRANCISCO
Matt O. Steve Mac and myself are in the city tonight! We were having dinner when the phone rang asking us to come in to work early. The opening band didn't show up! man I love playing at Lou's so we jump up from the table like a fire dept. team and off we go. Rushing to set up the gear, park the truck and start the tunes a rollin'. We make a 6:45pm down beat and play shows until midnight. my long time buddy Michael B. is here to help out and it is terrific to have friends back you up at times like this. The crowd is Rockin and the management is glad we could start early. I always have fun in the city!
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17th - UKIAH BREWING CO , UKIAH
North to the wine country. The fields are colored with an orange to the vines and the sun sets low during winter. Not to cold yet up here although you feel like eating a hearty dinner at the brewing company. Folks need to get to know you here, they are a tight nit community. We set up and play some music early to get started. i get a chance to meet some people and sell my CDs. a good start for me here in this part of California. i set the alarm and leave very early, traveling on 101 listening to pre game football on the radio. We stop at the Railroad Cafe for lunch and then on into Los Angeles. Matt Oloffson. did a great job playing drums this weekend, hope to work more shows with this talentd musician.
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Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 11:19 AM PDT
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8th - VOODOO LOUNGE - HOUSE OF BLUES, ANAHIEM
Rich, Steve and I have a cool blues sound. Tonight we are groovin' at this Anahiem blues headquaters the Voodoo. I sometimes think back to the Live Blues brothers CD with Jake and Elwood. Dan and John the Blues brothers built this chain of clubs. Rippin into the tunes with a cool bar crew,
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9th - BLUE DOG TAVERN - LONG BEACH
This the best Blues bar for miles around. I have friends here from Seal Beach and the place is jammed. The owner and I have a great conversation before the show about football and blues music. he is from New Orleans and besides being a fan of the Saints he has built a club that captures the feel of Burbon Street and the music.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10th - THE PITCHER HOUSE - REDONDO BEACH
This once great club has fallen on hard times after moving to the new location. We set up and blast the tunes out to a small but cool crowd. The staff is the same and doing a good job of carring on the spirit of the old club. After talking to Princess one of my friends from the old club, we all hope Jimmy can hold on until summer and build a crowd. Still the band has a fun night and Steve the bass playing bartender makes this place a Rock N Roll beach bar!!
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Monday, October 29th, 2007 1:40 PM PDT
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1st - FOUR OLIVES CAFE, LONG BEACH
The food here is excellent! All though a small venue I enjoy the crowd and plan to play here on New Years Eve. Tonight a birthday party is going on for a guest and the place is jammed. We tuck into a corner and kick out some smooth blues. Steve the bass player is seated and we give the music a very upscale vibe, not Beverly Hills, just a class sound to the tunes. Everyone gets it and man this sounds nice.
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Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007 11:12 PM PDT
ON THE ROAD IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA!!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 - TORCH CLUB, SACRAMENTO
Mark, Steve and I are on our way up highway 5 headed for Sacramento. After a tough week of things going not so well. Some weeks are like that. After checking in we head over to hamburger Patty's for a bite before loading in to the Torch club. The weather is classic fall with the trees changing colors here in Old town Sac. This part of Sacramento is amazing with the old buildings and cool vibe, lots of artists, theaters with touring plays and the Capitol buildings. Later we rip into the show with the first part of the night off the hook with dancing and fun. Donny and crew run a great bar, the band sounds great, towards the end of the night the place slows down. I have never seen the Torch Club slow down at Midnight. I hope this great old club can stay in business, this is a favorite club of mine.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 - CHIEF CRAZY HORSE, NEVADA CITY
I'm looking forward to the show tonight because I have friends from this part of the state, and we are planning to meet for dinner. The recent Alleghany show was a blast and it is not far from Nevada City. David and Joni, good friends from many shows will be here tonight along with Jack and Mike. This a very beautiful part of California, the trees are all changing colors, Nevada City is about 2 or 3 thousand feet in elevation. The club is near main street with lots of shops and cool places to eat and drink. Dinner is excellent as we are all at one big table visiting and enjoying the Halloween costumes on everyone passing by the window. David and Joni look great as pirates! The crowd is up for fun and we kick out the jams with some dancing and a little MoJo Workin. Great place to gig, look forward to getting back here again.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28 - BLUE HERON, COARSEGOLD
With a super breakfast at Patty's in Old Town we drive south on highway 99. We all agree that this part of Sacramento is fantastic, I would like to live here. The football games are on today and with seris radio in the truck we are getting broadcasts from around the country. Around Madera we head North towards 41 and on into Coarsegold. Beautiful this time of year, about 1500 feet elevation I guess. We set up the gear and Poppa Frank has a nice buffet going for all the guests, great food. As we kick out the tunes some friends from the last show come in and pull up a seat at the bar and nearby tables. After awhile the room is movin and we are in for a fun night. I love playing this room everybody is so nice and friendly. We just hit it off, Steve and Mark are groovin and visiting with everyone too. What a fun place! We load the gear at the end of the night, take a few photos and we all plan to get together again soon. The truck rolls through Fresno and onto Highway 99 towards Los Angeles. The ride goes by quick because we are still feeling so up from being with the crowd at the Blue Heron, what a lot fun it is to visit Coarsegold!
HAPPY HOLLOWEEN!!
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Tuesday, October 16th, 2007 10:28 AM PDT
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19th - OH GRADY'S PUB, GRANADA HILLS
This local pub is a favorite. Sherry runs a nice room with lots of cool bands booked all the time. We recently were talking about the Gilroy Garlic Festival and how much fun this summer event is. Tonight my friends are here Carter and his lady, a fellow musician and both avid supporters of animal rights. There is always talk of big house cats who eat and sleep a lot! Joe Robb walks through the door and we now have a rippin sax on stage with us. Joe owns a big dog at just six months old it already 130 pounds. After loading the gear in the truck Steve, Mark and I cruise into the San Fernando valley with the streets clear of the usual traffic.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20th - BLUESAPALOZA FESTIVAL, COVINA
MAINSTAGE: THUNDER ALLEY - 2:30pm show
Up early and on the phone to Rich Smith who is playing drums today. The weather is perfect and I am looking forward to this festival. Steve Brooke calls and says Linda V. will be with him along with Beau. The stage is nice with a huge PA, (shuts down and blows two amps later) the police let us in the backstage and we set up. My buddy T is here and is filming, I hope I can get a copy for the site. Downbeat and we are off and rippin with "Cruisin' The Coast" Kirk Nelson waves on his way to play keys for Jumpin Jack Benny, there are lots of hot bands here today. The vitage cars and trucks are near are stage and I take some photos with these restored to mint condition classic's. As we end the show Linda Vanier sings a couple of show stopper tunes and the crowd is having a blast. With a sing a long on "The Blues Are Alright" we bring the show to a close and begin tyo clear the stage. What a great day! I call Steve B. and turn the truck North towards Los Angeles, he is going to stay and see every band and event. This one of the best festivals, I bet there was about 30,000 people here today!
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Monday, October 8th, 2007 9:06 AM PDT
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11th @ THE HOUSE OF BLUES IN ANAHEIM "VOODOO LOUNGE"
Rich, Steve and and our first HOB Anahiem show. Blues tonight with everything going great. Two security checks to get into Disney, and into downtown Disney. The land of the Mouse and HOB you realy can't beat that for a fun night. People on vacation and having a good time. I look forward to playing more of this gig.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13th @ SMOKIN' JACKS IN BURBANK
Joe Robb on Sax tonight, Mark C., Steve and I are in Burbank. I rarely play the East Valley, two good friends are at a nearby table. One is JoJo a great friend that goes back to when I was in Stone a popular ZZ top style trio. The food is great here and this is downtown with lots of people on the streets. The show rolls along with Joe playing some nice horn work. I have been friends with Joe for years and years ago we would play acoustic gigs with my acoustic guitar and he would play sax. I like the coffee house acoustic gigs they can be a lot of fun with the audience very close in and the sound mellow and the songs are kinda of storytelling music.
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Sunday, September 30th, 2007 12:12 PM PDT
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5th - TAILGATERS, BRENTWOOD
On our way to Livermore and my favorite place to eat, The Railroad Cafe! This is a very mellow town on the edge of the Bay Area and perfect for us this weekend. We can get to each show from here in under a half hour. we pull up to tailgaters in Brentwood around 8pm and Mark C. is on Drums tonight with Steve and I. Ripping in to the songs the place is a fun local bar run by an excellent GM Big Ben! We are having a good time as usual, the crew here is very cool and it is nice visit with two very nice gals who although mothers of teens, say when there out on the town they have fun dancing and maybe a little flirting with the guys is cool. Hey I think everybody agrees with that.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6th - DUBLIN SPORTS BAR, DUBLIN
Ah, breakfast over at the Railroad Cafe, Jo, Ernie, Cindy, Allie, Janet how come you have the best place in the state. Wow. the weather is great and later that night we are over in Dublin at the Sports bar when in walks my Nephew and his wife. What a great surprise! We grab a table and I am telling them about the Chef at the Railroad and in walks Ernie the Chef with Janet from the Cafe. We all start visiting and talking about this part of California. Dublin is a well off area and is a super place to be tonight. The show rolls along, we play later for everyone because of the birthday party here tonight. after a Ronnie Montrose concert ends nearby the place getts bump.in
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7th - BLUE HERON, COARSEGOLD
Breafast/ Lunch for me at the Railroad and down the road we go heading for Coarsegold. We take a Mapquest turn near Chowcilla and turn on to a backroad that leads us through some very empty country side. I think the ranchers out here like it that way. Man, a two lane country road. After awhile we get back on the main road and into town. Mapquest, sometimes good, sometimes not so good. With the football game on the radio we pull up to the clubhouse here just outside of Coarsegould. Yosemite lakes, has it's own and with a great dinner from Head Chef Poppa Frank we slide into some tunes. The deck here at the clubhouse overlooks a lake and lots of green evergreen trees. Beautiful! Well we are mowing through the sets when half way through the place fills up and has all the locals, very nice people and we start to feel like we are visiting at a private party at someones home. The next thing we know we are all singing and dancing and really having a goodtime. Let's get loud and wild! The band is hot from three days on the road and the folks are making us feel very welcome to their part of California. Later that night we all decide to come back here at the end of the month for more fun. Wow, what a cool place and terrfic to meet everyone. Thank you to our friends in Coarsegold for your support and buying the CDs.
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Sunday, September 23rd, 2007 1:12 PM PDT
THE BLUE DOG TAVERN ON FRIDAY, SEPT. 28th / LONG BEACH!!
This one of the coolest Blues Bar's in LA, with the best Blues players booked here all year long. A local hang out near the airport, inland from the Long Beach pier. We kick out the tunes, Eduard, Steve and I and right away the crowd let's us know they are into it. Fun, to have a crowd who likes Rockin' Blues. Soon the place is jumpin and we roll through the sets.
Long Beach is the Blues Capitol of California!
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Monday, September 17th, 2007 10:00 AM PDT
FRIDAY, SEPT. 21 SKIPS BIKE NIGHT IN RIVERSIDE / HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP
On the lawn in front of this major dealership is a nice stage, We set up and kick start the tunes with Eduard on drums tonight. The possibile rain storm has kept some riders away, however it does not rain until much later after we have gotten home. Better for moving gear. Traffic getting here was a monster, what is Southern California going to do in the future. My friend Rick S. sent an email letting me know he is celebrating his birthday today. Can you pick up a Harley T shirt for me. The Harley T's are very cool. Tonight turns out to be excellent because we hook up another gig for next year with a bike club making a run.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 22 O'GRADYS PUB IN GRANADA HILLS
A couple of years back Rich Smith started playing drums at some of the shows, a great drummer who was born and grew up here in Southern Cal. Tonight Steve, Rich and I meet up at this local tavern in Granada Hills. Sherry runs a long time bar with lots of bands playing here over the years, she is a very nice person as well. One note about this part of Los Angeles is that years ago the Western film and TV stars built ranches here with wide open space for there horses. Slowly the city surrounded them and they sold off all the land. Still I think there is one famous ranch house out here used as a landmark. during the fifties singing Cowboy stars were very popular in the U.S.
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Monday, September 10th, 2007 9:47 AM PDT
FRIDAY, SEPT. 14 EARTHDANCE FESTIVAL / TEHACHAPI
3pm SHOW ON MAIN STAGE
I'm on the cell phone booking time for next week at the swinghouse studio in Hollywood, Steve and Adam are with me driving out of LA past colorful deserts near Mojave. Turning north on the 58 we are soon pulling up to the festival on a not so smooth road. We are up in the hills above Tehachapi on somewhat raw open land. The promoters are behind schedule because of the lighting system. Visiting with crew and staying out of the wind, time drifts by soon our start time is long gone. The stage is large and the PA sounds good but the lights are not ready, out here in the middle of the desert you are going to need lights in about an hour or so. We understand and with much regret give up our time slot so the next band can start. Saying all the best to our friends here in the high desert we drive North past Bakersfiield, up the 99 to Fresno. Fresno has become one of the largest cities in California, with lots of new homes and jobs. The phone rings and it's Oscar and Kofi calling to find out about the festival because they are playing Saturday, I let them know that the stage will be ready for them and wish them good shows this weekend. Checking in after dinner we get some rest for tomorrow, really looking forward to the mountains and Alleghany.
SATURDAY. SEPT. 15 CASEY'S PLACE / ALLEGHANY
Sitting down to Breakfast Steve is in a good mood because today his Birthday! Happy B'Day! David and Joni give us a call about directions to the club. Don't follow map quest for this run. I know what you mean sometimes the computer can run you off to some small road the long way. Hmm. Ok up through Sacramento to Auburn onto Highway 49 and on to Alleghany. The moutains are wonderful as we climb to 5,000 feet, up steep but modern road. Pulling into town the road narrows to one lane and this Main Street. We pile into Casey's looking for Caree and the history is everywhere. The weather is near perfect and with a round of hugs, the rally and Rockin' The Ridge weekend begins. Joni and David are here all already and it's time to meet everybody and set up the gear. After a purchase of excellent homemade jam we take our bags up to the manision on the hill. This future B & B is the orginial built by one of the owners of a gold mine here. It looks like it is classic San Francisco with a long history of owners. Three stories with an attic it is rich with the many stories of the past residents. Current owners Angus and Chris were super nice to let us stay and we got a chance to hear some amazing stories of moving some spirits out of the building to make it the fantastic place to stay it is today. With so much excitement in the air we started early at 5pm and played until past 11pm. Everybody was having a lot of fun and this would turn out to be one of the best of the year!
SUNDAY, SEPT. 16 CASEY'S PLACE / ALLEGHANY
The water here is very clean and tastes outstanding. One of the few places in the state that has no additives of any kind. Runs through a natural filter in the mountain. The weather is excellent and today is a bike rally with many contests and prizes given away. After a late breakfast we are into the music and everyone makes a day of it. Lots of action and a good feeling of small town almost like visiting caree's house with friends. I get a chance to talk with the miners who work the gold mine year round. Interesting work, pulling gold out of the mountain. Three miles of underground tunnels. I try to imagine the streets in the late 1800's with new Californian's here from all over the world, the wild days of gold and the rough and tumble lifestyle. The locals tell me of how important the Chinese workers were to building the mine and the railroads. There are many places to look for artifacts buried around here. The moutain is rugged and a mule would be the best transportation in those days. Around 6pm we load the truck and head down off the hill. A wonderful weekend with some very nice people. We pull into old town Sacramento for dinner at Hamburger Patty's and then on down the 5 highway. Late at night we glide into Southern Cali. Amazing how cool this state of California is. I love it.
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Wednesday, September 5th, 2007 8:48 AM PDT
FRIDAY, SEPT. 7th / ORIGINAL MIKE'S in SANTA ANA
Bumpin along down the 405, Adam, Steve and I head for very old downtown districk here in Southern cali, Santa Anna. This old night spot has a patio under palm trees that seem to be 100 years old. Easy load in and a few folks among the crowd have come to see me play some Rockin' Blues, heard about me from the magazine Southland Blues. Easy gig, on a nice night, this is a big operation with a resturant, two bars, DJ and two bands, one inside ans us on the patio. The better gig with this tropical weather. Slight problem on the way home, we are lost, after awhile we locate the 22 freeway and, once on a freeway we are back on coarse.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 8th / CITY SLICKERS in TEHACHAPI
Traveling out towards the Mojave destert today. There is a town called Mojave, small with a giant airfield of retired passenger airplanes, 100's of them. Like a used car lot for 747's. Climbing into the Tehachapi mountains along highway 58. This is ranch and horse country. We leave the freeway and pull up to a very happening club, set up and jump into the tunes. We get a chance to meet some cool people from town and Anna, Patty, Bill, Ginger and the locals invite us to come back when we can. Really a great little town, I have never been to before. Really like the western cowboy feel here. Not to far as we are back in Los Angeles later that night.
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Friday, August 31st, 2007 4:34 PM PDT
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30 - FOUR OLIVES CAFE, LONG BEACH
Oscar, Adam and I cruise over to the Four Olives tonight. A nice place to have dinner and listen to music. I have had a lot of fun nights here, New Year's eve 2006 was a blast. We play low volume and mellow as people have dinner and enjoy. Adam is on brushes, Oscar is sitting down, Towards the end of the first set It hits me like a ton of bricks. I have the summer flu! Oh no, two more shows to go and I'm getting weaker by the moment. Strange feeling. Still, during the last two shows I play and sing all right. Kinda forgetting what's happening to me. Outside on the breaks I tell Oscar I feel bad. After the shows, we load the gear and the equipment feels like it weighs double! I tell Adam and Oscar I will call them in the morning as we drive home past La Cienega Blvd.
FRI and SAT AUG. 31 & SEPT. 1. IN PACFIC GROVE HAVE BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO ILLNESS.
Friday morning I call the band and let them know I am to sick to travel. Chris is called at the club with the news. Disapointing because I never miss a show and we had picked up press in two Monterey newspapers!
My friend Rod W. lives in Carmel Valley and offers to bring his band in to cover Saturday's show. Thanks Rod, I've known Rod since we were kids. Friday and Saturday is recoverey time and building strenth. Feeling better all the time. I don't like to miss work. I really like playing gigs and was looking forward to getting a start in the Monterey market
WATCH FOR NEW DATES IN THE MONTEREY AREA!!!!!
MONDAY, SEPT 3 THE BAND WILL BE IN LAKE HUGHES AT THE ROCK INN AT 1pm.
Adam, Oscar and I are happy to be back at work and on our way to the Rock Inn. I have worked here a few years and Warren and his family have really built up the business of this very historic California Inn. A bar with a stage, Warren has been booking the best bands in the area, built of sold rock around 1920. We arrive set up and jump into the tunes. There is a great crowd here today, my buddy Bill T. is here with his lady and I meet lots of cool people all afternoon. The band is red hot because I am so glad to be back in health and ripping on guitar. After an afternoon of music we load up the gear and drive back through the canyon, very wooded with lakes and camping. So close to Los Angeles yet so amazing to be in such rough, wooded forest. California is incredible.
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Sunday, August 12th, 2007 7:42 PM PDT
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24th - LOU'S PIER 47, SAN FRANCISCO
Oscar Huquet is on board for this run. Six string bass guitar, wow, we pull into San Francisco on a summer's night. The weather is great and the gear is on stage at Lou's. I walk along the Wharf and take some photos, getting a feel for the City and remember I once lived here years ago. As I start the show the club is full of people, Friday night and let's get the party started. Tonight is a good one because my long time buddy Rick S. has invited some friends here that go all the way back to eighth grade in school. At the table is the wonderful young lady Monique and her gal pals from Marin. Very Nice! John Henry, Paul Wall and Rick are at the next table. Lots of visiting and hugs, what a fun time remembering those days. Then the ladies, Monique and her buds are on the dance floor singing along and the room is moving everybody is catching the positive vibe and excitement these girls are creating. Everybody goes the distance and we close the place and turn out the lights. Oh Ya!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25th - GUALALA HOTEL, GUALALA
The band stops by one of the best cafe's in the bay area, The Railroad Cafe! Jo owns this tastey eatery and the food is out of this world good.
The band and I are looking forward to stopping in before we leave for Southern California on Sunday. Off we go up Highway one to Gualala. The road twists and turns with the view for miles out to sea. Then after a photo in Fort Ross we pull into Gualala, and start to set up and move the bags into the rooms upstairs. Over at the bar Joni and Dave from Penn Valley have just come in. Riding their panhead Harley's in from across the state. Joni had repaied her bike along the way in Colusa with the help of a bike shop keeper who really came through for them. We all sit down for dinner and visit a bit and kindof catch up. Joni and David have been with me at several shows in Northern California and we share the goodtimes and have become good friends. Around 7pm the place fills up and the band kicks off the night with some tunes. Now the folks here on the coast like to have a good time, their not shy and quiet. So we get the dance floor moving and they like to have fun. Thank you to my buddy who is so nice to sit in on guitar and madolin and to everybody who bought CDs and made us feel welcome. This is a great part of California. Even though it is late by the time we pack up the gear. I set my alarm and the band leaves at dawn in the coastal mist south on highway one.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 18th at the PARADISE STORE has been cancelled due to a large forest fire in the Santa Barbara mountains.
This is a sad event for the Santa Barbara Moutains and my friend Allan and his ever watchful german shepard dog. You plan for business to get by and this sets you back. Our support is with Allan and hope he can hang on and open this Historical California landmark next summer.
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Monday, August 6th, 2007 11:34 AM PDT
FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 - THE PITCHER HOUSE, HERMOSA BEACH
This club goes off on the weekends! Dave books cool bands and everybody is here to party. For over 50 years this room has been a center of night life in this beach town. The walls are covered with stuff that is museum quality old stuff! Princess, one of the beach hotties is celebrating her birthday tonight. With a cake on stage, she joins me at the microphone and I sing a very nice version of " Happy Birthday" complete with a hug and a small kiss. Steve and Adam are rock solid on the dance groove and the crowd joins in.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 - BREWING COMPANY, SAN PEDRO
After setting up and ripping into the tunes on the first set I get a chance to talk to the drummer with the MVP's band. Nice guy, he is a resident here and San Pedro is changing from a working port to an upscale Marina. Complete with high rise condos and lofts. He is excited about his purchase and even though the old buildings and small streets remind me of San Francisco you can see this is a valued area of Southern California. The folks are nice to us here and after midnight the club quiets down and the boss says hey you guys can finish early. With a fog rolling in from the Long Beach harbor we put the gear in the truck and roll.
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Sunday, July 29th, 2007 7:49 PM PDT
FRIDAY, AUGUST 3 - TACHI PALACE CASINO, LEMOORE
I gotta say we are looking forward to this weekend. Steve, Adam and I working two nights at this very nice Hotel and casino. Staying up stairs and then down to the stage and a show from 7pm - 11pm. Nice. Adam has girl friend with him so they are driving together. Steve and I check inand are on our way to the buffett for dinner, Oh Ya! The show starts and up walks a cool couple from Visalia Monika and Gary. Great we are visiting between sets and the shows are rolling along. The crowd gathers in front of the stage so we get a bit of a concert going on. Later Steve is off to the Nathans hot dog stand which has a line, well it was worth the wait I am told.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 - TACHI PALACE CASINO, LEMOORE
No driving today and down to the pool. Nice. After a major feed at the buffett, this could become a problem, we are on stage for three one hour shows and the gear is in the truck. A shout out to guitar man Vinney for the good vibes and thanks to Ro and fellow manager Nathan who are super cool to the band. Major thank you to Larry R. who booked us.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 - HINANOS, VENICE
Ok, now after dropping off Steve to get his truck I head for Venice. The streets are packed it is a mini Sig alert. What ever that means. It is LA for every car is not moving. I go around back by the alley and back up to the side. Yes I'm here. No Steve or Adam to help unload the gear. Wow. I start pulling gear off the truck, the cops are cool and let me double park. A Venice local watches out for me and inside to say Hi to Mary Alice the manager. The gear is set up, the truck parked by the Venice Pier. Now the good stuff, music all afternoon on the Venice boardwalk. People moving and grooving to the music.. Nice. This is good.
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Saturday, July 21st, 2007 11:28 PM PDT
FRIDAY, JULY 27th - GILROY GARLIC FESTIVAL (noon)
Leaving on Thursday we check into Salinas a town growing fast. The festival is a big event and this is about as close as we can get with the huge amount of people in town for the festival. Friday morning we pull up to the stage and set up. The theme of this festival of course is Garlic and food! Today the temperature is cool with a breeze and everyone is roaming the park tasting items. Steve, Adam and I sound good and I meet a lot of nice people today.
FRIDAY, JULY 27th (night) - FOGBANK, CAPITOLA
After the festival show we are on our way to Capitola for tonight's gig.
I am on the Phone to my buddy Steve S. and he says he will be there tonight to sit-in on guitar. Great! Then in a surprise I find out my very good friend from High School is in town and will be there too! Wow! We are on the way to the coastal village in downtown Capitola, shops and bars with waves of the Pacfic next to the sidewalk. Everybody is here to enjoy the summer along side the beach. With one show earlier we are ripping hot and the tunes are flowing easy. In between sets Steve, Connie and I catch up on old times having had many wild stories to tell from high school, like most people everywhere. What a fun weekend.
SATURDAY, JULY 28th - MONGO'S, GROVER BEACH
After a long Saturday we sleep in and after breakfast on the road south to Grover Beach. San Luis Obispo is central Cal. coast and it is fantastic. We are playing music at Mongo's, not far from the dunes and beach. Michael welcomes us and we settle in for a Rockin' good time. Owned by a former football star the food is great and the locals party on the deck and in the bar. Tonight the band is red hot and we lift off like a jet. Every song is coming up with long jams, the sound is great in here so you can really get into the music. In between sets a friend of mine Paul walks in from Southern Ca., he is on a trip with two other buddies. They rented a 40 foot RV and brought two Harley's for a week of partying on the coast. The night is a blast with summer written all over this day. We put the gear in the truck and drive to Santa Maria for the night. Up early and back to Southern Cali. Terrific weekend, lots of music.
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Sunday, July 15th, 2007 9:55 PM PDT
VISALIA ALL MUSIC FESTIVAL - FRIDAY, July 20th
Right in the middle of the summer of 2007, the band heads for the very center of California and a new music festival. Nice! We like to find home town buffetts when we can because the everybody can get what ever food they want. Visalia has a good one so we start there. Bruce the promoter has us staying not more than 25 yards from the stage at a Comfort Inn. Check in and walk over to the gig. This a super event with bands from all over here and downtown Visalia the center of the festival. Adam is on drums off the road from touring with the Red Elvis's and the mighty Steve Mac. on bass. The crowd is up for a goodtime and it is not long before there are a dancers in front of the stage and a few singalongs. It is always a lot more fun when the crowd is involved. We end up playing past 11 and stay to talk to folks as the gear gets packed up to travel.
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Sunday, July 8th, 2007 10:34 AM PDT
THURSDAY, JULY 12 - ROUNDUP SALOON, LAFAYETTE
Eduard, Steve and I pull into Lafayette, a wooded upper east bay town. St. Marys college is nearby and the bar is located in the village center with shops surrounding this very old building complete with a fireplace.
It's a nice summer night, not to hot and we kick out some tunes. The electric wiring is tricky in these old buildings, but we make it work. Everyone is having a goodtime and a full room for a Thursday night.
I am glad we played here for future traveling because booking on a Thursday or Sunday helps when you are on the road.
FRIDAY, JULY 13 - TAILGATERS BAR, BRENTWOOD
PART OF THIS YEARS CORN FESTIVAL Ben and crew at Tailgaters Sports bar are very cool and they have given me a break in this market by hiring the band. We met through Thaxter Daggs pro drummer from this part of California. As I am setting up, in walks my cousin Shari from Sparks Nevada, Wow, this is terrific and we visit between sets. She is in town to rally my uncle her dad. At a near by table is a long time buddy John Henry from the bay area with his friends. Thanks buddy for being here tonight! With friends in the room, I feel loose and rip into the tunes. I started the day with a call to friends in the Bay area, we are gathering at Scott and Lynn's for a great day of BBQ and music on Saturday.
SATURDAY, JULY 14 - JJs BLUES, SAN JOSE
WELCOME SCOTT and LYNN's SECOND ANNUAL ROCKIN' THE BLUES BBQ
With the weather outstanding we head over to Santa Clara. My buddy Scott has a nice place tucked into the suburbs with plenty of room for a gathering of friends to eat outside and visit. Scott is a master BBQ chef and with his new smoker the food is outstanding! My buds from Redwood City and San Francisco are here so it is a super event. Tonight we are all going over to JJ's Blues not far from here for music and good times. With the gear inside JJ's Dave West the soundman is putting mic's on everything to record the show. To add to the fun riders from the Hollister rally are here as well. The enerey level in the room is up and we rip into the tunes. Right off the bat the room is moving and everyone joins in. Another surprise tonight is my buddy from Southern Cal is here Bill T. in town to visit family and stops by to say hey! Later I get a chance to talk with Johnnie the owner and we both agree tonight was a good one and start planning the next show. Johnnie is very cool and hands me three CDs of the show he recorded and says put the best on your site if you like. Little Miss D. takes some very cool photos of the show for the site as well. As we pack up I catch up to Scott and Lynn and with hugs all around we all agree that the second ROCKIN' THE BLUES BBQ was a good one with lots of fun and good vibes. Thank you Scott and Lynn!!!!!
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THANK YOU TO ALL THE RIDERS AND FRIENDS FOR MAKING THIS YEARS INDEPENDENCE RALLY IN HOLLISTER AN OUTSTANDING CALIFORNIA BIKE RIDERS EVENT. THE BAND HAD A LOT OF FUN. WOW! GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY!
Monday, July 2nd, 2007 10:33 AM PDT
SATURDAY, JULY 7th - INDEPENDENCE RALLY, HOLLISTER
WISHING EVERYONE A GREAT 4TH OF JULY 2007
This is a big weekend, not only for the band but for everybody across the country. After loading the gear up on Thursday morning Eduard, Steve and myself set off on the 101 north for Salinas. A super sunny day moving north along the California coast. The road gets a little quiet after Paso Robles with wide open space for miles. I can only guess there is no water here because it is not that far from the coast and there is nothing out here.
Along the way is an old army base that is long not used, with the wind bringing back images of all the people who trained here and then left to serve in the Pacific war of World War Two. A large open fort left as it was in 1945. The truck rolls along to celebrate the 4th in Holister with thousands of Bike riders gathered to salute the men and women of the US military and the contiued dream of freedom. After checking in and dinner we rest up for an early set up at the event. My buddy Rick S. is on the phone saying he would be with a group of riders leaving from Redwood City. The weather is cooler than usual and everybody is here this morning. I see my friends from School, Jack F. and Greg L. both who I have not seen in years. My buddy Larry R. is here from "The Palace" and Rick S. is here with friends. We start rippin' into the tunes and the beer garden is bumpin'! I look up from playing guitar and from Southern California is girl bike rider Boots. Wow, then from Sunset Beach and a favorite bar of mine is Bob O"Neil. This is turninmg out to be a huge gathering of freinds. The band is having a ball with the music and Rick's friend are helping me with CDs and the crowd is having fun. Then a good buddy from Santa Clara who said he was not planning on Holister this year is here with brothers from his club. Hey big Scott, how are you, what a cool surprise! He later tells me that law enforment was a little overly on the edge of the festival, but everywhere all the riders are peaceful and looking forward to getting this rally back on the calendar for next year. With our time on stage ending we rip into some Rockin' the Blues favorites and say see you next year to everyone. I call the promoter on the way south on highway 5 and we talk about how amazing and cool this years Hollister Rally turned out to be. What a good time. Thanks to all my buddies for the help with the gear, and being at the stage to party with the band. Great seeing everyone!
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Sunday, June 24th, 2007 2:00 PM PDT
OH GRADY'S - GRANADA HILLS - FRIDAY, JUNE 29th at 9pm - 1am
Shari is here tonight, along with all the regulars. Nice pub in Granada Hills that was once farm and ranch land in the 50's. There is a small stage and lights, and the sound in the room is good. Malachi Nathan is riding with me playing bass for tonights show. We had stopped by and given DC some cds in Studio City at Jerry's Famous Deli. Kirk and Eduard are set up when we arrive. The music is roaring along when my good buddy Joe Robb walks in with his new Sax. The horn sounds nice and he plays two sets with us, sounding like the horn player on saturday night live band. Around 1am we wrap up and head for the door, always good to be this close to home after work. We play the whole state of California, so that includes the San Frenando Valley.
THE PARADISE STORE - SATURDAY, JUNE 30 at 8pm in Santa Barbara -
Highway 154. Steve McCormack, Eduard and I travel north to Santa Barbara this afternoon. The weather is great as we drive along the Pacific Ocean, talking about the show tonight and food in Croatia / eastern Europe. Eduard is here studing music in school from Croatia, he says they love BBQ food back home. As we roll up to the front of Paradise Store Allan and his dog great us with a nice welcome. Then in the distance we all hear the sound of fire trucks entering the canyon near by. The start of what will become a 20 mile wide back country fire has been discovered. The band plays the show to ten pm as planned. Most of the locals retreat to their homes to be on site and prepared. Allan hoses down the Store roof, an serves the people who are staying for dinner. As it turns out the fire stays in the backcountry, we pack up and drive south on highway 154. Kirk played excellent keys tonight, we took some photos on the deck and the food was terrific. This location is a classic California experience, as it has been since the store opened over 50 years ago.
HINANO'S - SUNDAY, JULY 1 in VENICE at 4pm - 8pm
Today Kirk Nelson and I are working the show as a Duo! Keys and Guitar. After working all weekend, this is our third show in a row and it is smooth. The weather is excellent summer down at the beach kinda day. Hinanos is a great hang out for all kinds of folks and on some days there a big stars from the entertainment business sitting at the bar. Just having a cool one at the beach in Venice. We slip into some blues and roll through the afternoon. M. A. is here today working the bar and well she likes a little Jimmy Buffett music now and then. Very nice.
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Monday, June 18th, 2007 5:01 PM PDT
BLUES, BREWS, & BBQ AT THE VISALIA OAKS BASEBALL PARK
SATURDAY, JUNE 23 at 8pm
Put together by one of the best promoters in California, I look forward to this show. Rich Smith, and new bassman Steve McCormack and I pull into Visalia on a summer afternoon. We had stopped at the Tachi Palace casino for lunch and with extra time check-in to the hotel. There is a nice airport here in Visalia, what I like to call the new California. Lots of new homes and stores, just a super new city. The show tonight is on the baseball park, big stage, great PA and crew, with lots of free beer to the fans. Well you can see this is going to be a great gig. My friend's niece Pam is here with her buddy and after some visiting we take the stage and enjoy this big PA system and lights. Before we start a couple has a surprise, he asks his girl to marry him in front of the crowd, she came to the stage thinking she was claiming a ticket win. Very nice. Rich is red hot on the drums, tearing and slashing through the tunes, Wow, all those gigs are paying off for him. I spend time meeting folks after the show by the stage, just a cool evening. Visalia is really the new California, I'm glad to be here tonight.
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Sunday, June 10th, 2007 9:25 AM PDT
FRIDAY, JUNE 15 - THE TORCH CLUB, SACRAMENTO
Kelly King, Oscar and I meet in the morning and drive north to Sacramento. I really like Old town Sac., The Torch Club and the vibe in the area. Capital buildings and original California homes from a long time ago.
We stop in at Hambuger Marys for dinner and get the gear over to the club. In walks the president of the Sac Blues Society Willie B. and we get a chance to visit, talking about the upcoming festivals. The show is a total ball of fun, everybody is here tonight. Lots of friends, Joni and David, the girls from Jackson, the evening is a Rockin' Blues Rippin good time. Wow! Special thanks to Tumbleweed Harp man from Shane Dwight sits in at the end of the night and blows everybody away with the Blues Harp!
SATURDAY, JUNE 16th - HENFLINGS, BEN LOMOND
After breakfast we drive to the Bay Area, check in and make plans to go to Santa Cruz. My buddy Scott F. is on the phone and plans to bring friends to Ceasars club tonight. Ace guitar player Steve S. from San Jose is dropping by tonight to sit in. Lots of cool people here tonight, Oscar has made many friends in Ben Lomond and he is visiting between sets. Steve and I are trading riffs and giving the show an Allman Bro's groove.
SUNDAY, JUNE 17th - LOU's PIER 47, SAN FRANCISCO
On our way to the City for an 8pm show. The City is fun seven nights a week and Lou's is bumpin' on a Sunday night. Before the show my long time buddies Rick, Michael and their sons Ricky and Thomas head over to Hooters for dinner. It's Fathers Day and well it makes for a nice get together. I call my sister Maryanne and put her on the phone with Rick and Michael, we have all been friends for years, She loves San Francisco. The show is smooth, CD sales and great to meet new people from around the USA visiting S. F. I'm looking out from the stage and in the back is Joni and her daughter Faith, great friends from Friday nights show in Sacramento. We visit and talk a bit, Joni is a very cool lady and her daughter is a pleasure to meet. Her Husband David ios a rider, I invite them to Holister for the Rally. Loading the gear, the wharf is quiet, amazing because tomorrow is Monday, in a few hours this place will be jammed. Nice.
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Thursday, June 7th, 2007 12:51 AM PDT
SATURDAY, JUNE 9 - SHORELINE VILLAGE / LONG BEACH HARBOR
Oscar drives over to my place and we load his bass gear on the truck. The weather is fantastic and we cruise down the 405 to Long Beach. We set up and Rich Smith and Kirk Nelson join us for a 1pm downbeat. The crowd and I settle in for a super afternoon. Music right at the harbor on a summers day. Man it is nice and the folks are into the tunes as Kirk rips into solo after solo of smoking keyboards. Photoman Bob is here today and he is taking photos for all the musicians at no cost. He is good too, you will see his photos on a lot of sites! Selling CDs and talking with music fans that say when you gonna play here more. Statewide shows keeps me busy. California on a summers day. Wow. Oscar and I cruise back up the 405 freeway talking about the fact that we have a Saturday night off after working this afternoon gig. Not so for Rich Smith he was on to his second gig of the day. Musicians love to play music.
Sunday, May 20th, 2007 12:47 PM PDT
WISHING EVERYONE A GOOD MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!
AN ALL AMERICAN THANK YOU TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY, PAST AND PRESENT!
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Sunday, May 13th, 2007 1:50 PM PDT
FRIDAY, MAY 18 - THE PITCHER HOUSE, HERMOSA BEACH
Paul, Malachi, Kirk and I meet up for a Rockin' The Blues show at this hot beach night spot. Two shows for Promoter Dave and it is a smooth visit to Hermosa. Malachi is terrfic on Bass as always.
SATURDAY, MAY 19 - SAN PEDRO BREWING COMPANY, SAN PEDRO
Tonight, Pierre on Bass, Kirk on keys and myself work as a trio, no drums.
We move through the set list and I notice that the crowd and staff are enjoying the sound. Pierre is working his first show with me and all the rehearsals pay off as he knows the tunes and sounds great. This bar is like Boston in may ways. The look and style, San Pedro is an excellent seaside town.
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Sunday, May 6th, 2007 11:02 PM PDT
SATURDAY, MAY 12 - JANIE"S SPORTS BAR, MONTCLAIR
Malachi, Adam and I travel through rush hour trafic today to Montclair. Not to bad, we left early so we set up and watch the basket ball game. Adam has been living in Dallas recently so he is into San Antonio Spurs. They win which makes the gig that much better for him. I am a Lakers fan and well it has not been so good the last few seasons. The bar is filled with the locals and could really be any where in the US. Pool tables, beer and relaxing on a friday. Add some Rockin' Blues music and you got yourself a goodtime. Just fine by me. Thanks to my buddy Steve B. for driving his 50's Studebaker, the "Batmobile" to the show. This car is in mint condition.
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Monday, April 30th, 2007 10:17 PM PDT
FRIDAY, MAY 4 - BLUES, BREWS, & BBQ FESTIVAL, VISALIA
Today's gig is in an open square in old town Visalia, kinda like being back east in Boston. The stage points out to several hundred chairs and tables with a BBQ and beer stand along side. The walls of the building provide great sound along the sides. The weather is a little cooler than expected so after dark the temputure drops to where you nneed a pull over. Adam, Oscar and I set up after dinner and get ready to rip into the tunes. This is the start of a great season of first fridays for music here that will run all summer, Blues, Brews and BBQ. Tonight is great the crowd buys CDs and I get a chance to talk to folks between shows. Later we checkin to the casino for saturday's show. The central valley is growing fast and you can see that this will be an important part of new California.
SATURDAY, MAY 5 - TACHI PALACE CASINO, LEMOORE
One of the top Casinos in California, Adam, Oscar and I enjoy a great weekend in this part of California. The show tonight is in the sports Bar on the upper floor of this very big casino. One of the best things is a chance to meet the various people working here, and I always feel I could live many places in California because folks are nice and friendly. Visalia, Hanford and Lemoore are terrific small central valley towns!
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Wednesday, April 25th, 2007 10:20 AM PDT
FRIDAY, APRIL 27 - DESERT ROSE CASINO, ALTURAS
With a 11 hour drive a head of us, Chad, Paul and myself leave on Thursday to get on location for work. Up the center of California , stop at Harris Ranch and on to Sacramento, on the road, up over the Tahoe pass on highway 80. We stop in Reno at around six pm for dinner at the best, El Dorado Casino. I realize I lost my extra set of keys at a service station, must of fallen out of my pocket. I carry them so I don't get locked out of the truck. Wow. Ok on the road again up 395 in the night to Alturas, but the Laker playoff game is on my serius radio and it is a good one. At around 11pm we enter the town, good to be here cause there is miles of wide open forest behind us with nothing open at this late hour.
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I am disappointed the historical museum is closed until May 1st here, because it is a good one. We meet the casino GM for lunch and set up the gear. Tonight the bar is full of people from the area and the weekend is off to a great start. My bud, the charming female bar tender is working tonight and she welcomes us and wishes the band a cool weekend in Alturas. My friends Amy and Carrol are here tonight too.
SATURDAY, APRIL 28 - DESERT ROSE CASINO, ALTURAS
The weather is terrific, Spring, a great day! After lunch at the Casino I get a call from my friends Amy and Carol C. Two wonderful long time residents of this part of California.We meet on Main street and the band follows out to an incredible home with a small herd of deer in the front yard. Visiting with the home owner, a former Southern Cal. resident we relax and talk about ranching here in the north east part of the state. On the way back to town Amy calls on the cell and invites us to a town event to raise money for the new ASPCA shelter. The food is delicious and a fun time to meet with some very nice local Alturas folks. We are soon on the way to the casino for a Rockin' The Blues good time, playing past 1am and having a lot of fun. The crowd is wild tonight and I really feel like staying here longer. I have enjoyed meeting so many cool people, Alturas, "Where the West Still Lives".
SUNDAY, APRIL 29 - LOU'S PIER 47, SAN FRANCISCO
Today we start out up at the Oregon border, on our way early with the first stop in Reno, Nevada!The best buffett in Reno is at the El Dorado Casino, we stop and have a major lunch. Across the mountains on highway 80 and down into Sacramento. I stop at the motel and on into the city of S. F. running right to the minute to make showtime. Lou's is bumpin and I am raceing to set up the PA, Michael B. a buddy I know in town is here and offers to help. Right on time Chad, Paul and I rip into the tunes, one after another. The crowd is up for a goodtime so I don't stop and play a 3 1/2 hour show! Wow! One of the longest ever, what a day. As I drive across the Bay bridge late on a Sunday night, the Bay Area is cool and quiet, San Francisco Rocks everynight of the week.
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Sunday, April 15th, 2007 10:24 AM PDT
FRIDAY, APRIL 20 - HARLEY'S, SAN BERNARDINO
Chad , Paul and I meet at Paul's place in Sherman Oaks. Paul a long time resident of So Cal. lives in a mellow neighborhood. Chad Watson has a very long list of memorable career accomplishments. Having worked with Charlie Rich, Freddie Fender, Janis Ian and many more recording artists. A pro since he was a kid, wow, always great to have Chad at the shows.
Tonight we are at a nice bar and grill in San Berdo, not a lot of people here but a good gig. Next week the three of us will drive to Alturas at the top of California, tonight we are visiting between sets. We have gotten the music tight so we can rip into the tunes and enjoy all the details of the music. The chemistry of musicians playing music together is a balance of sound.
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Sunday, April 8th, 2007 1:20 PM PDT
FRIDAY, APRIL 13 - MONGO'S, GROVER BEACH
North up the 101 freeway past Pacific Ocean views, Santa Barbara and on to Pismo. Chad, Paul and I travel excellent together and put out a rippin sound. We stop at downtown SLO and drop in on Boo Boo records, what a cool store and amazing part of California. The mission and Plaza are the feel of Central Ca. On to Grover and Mongos for set up and dinner. Michael the GM welcomes us and we catch up on things, this is a great club! Latter I am jazzed to see the VIP girls arrive! Wow. my VIP friends from many shows! This makes tonight a lot of fun! Thanks for being there.
SATURDAY, APRIL 14 - CASEY'S IRON HORSE SALOON, MADERA
BIKE RALLY TO RAISE MONEY FOR VALLEY CENTER FOR THE BLIND
Moving across California today. Hwy 46 from Paso Robles to the 99 and North beyond Fresno. Madera is a small community, started around ranching and the trains, like most central valley towns. I call ahead to talk to Dennis and he is excited about today's event. I am too and we are right on, as it is a good one. The huge BBQ smoker is out back as we pull in and despite the possible rain folks are making a bike run to raise money for the local valley center of the blind. Chad, Paul and I rip into the tunes and the dance floor starts to move. Vallarie writes for the Madera paper stops by with copies of my interview and we get a chance to visit. As the day slips into evening the leaders of the center, who are blind show that they can host an event and dance and carry on with their friends like any one with sight. Christine handles the bar and is a musician too. Next time we hope she plays guitar with the band and sits in on some tunes. By the end of the event there is a feeling of good work among everybody and Dennis takes the microphone to speak, his words convey what Madera is about, folks in this part of California doing what they can to help out. This was good one. We load the truck and slowly drive over the grapevine, past the mountains, talking music all the way.
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GREAT NEWS: WE ARE ADDED TO THE 2007 GILROY GARLIC FESTIVAL ON FRIDAY, JULY 27 11:45 - 1:15!!
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Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007 3:21 PM PDT
FRIDAY, APRIL 6 - SAPPHIRE LOUNGE, ALHAMBRA
My last show here as the club will be closing next month. My Friends Carlos and Patty are here tonight, we always have a lot of laughs and good times. I have worked this room for over two years, lots of music and fun nights, always full of people. Charley, Bobby and crew say goodbye at the end of the night. Hopefully Charley will open a new bar and we will be back working together. Alhambra is a secret jumpin area of Los Angeles, not known really. I remember like it was yesterday when a keyboard player named Don told me about this club and after he stopped in, called and said you got to get a gig here, the place is Rockin'.
SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - RICKY GENES, LOMITA
Kirk Nelson on keys and a birthday party for his wife tonight! Cool club, nice south bay room. Chad and Paul on Bass and drums, I am enjoying the sound that was on the road last weekend. The band plays the music tight and works well when you travel together and play music. Good Stuff!
SHOW ALERT!
HINANO"S FOR APRIL 8, THIS SUNDAY HAS BEEN MOVED TO A NEW DATE.
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2007 8:53 AM PDT
SHOWS THIS WEEK ARE IN THE BAY AREA!
FRIDAY, MARCH 30 - DOWNTOWN JOE'S / NAPA
Rich Smith and Chad arrive about 10am and we drive to Northern Ca. from Los Angeles. The weather is terrific, not much rain this year. After checking in we head for Napa. Wow, what a beautiful old historic downtown. You can tell this is wine country and it is a little like Beverly Hills. I had been told about this room from friends in Ben Lomond and D. Joes has a nice stage, bar, large eatery and patio. It is slow tonight although we are up for music and the folks here are partying! The owner is cool and plans major business this summer. This is a classic part of California with a great look and feel.
SATURDAY, MARCH 31 - FLORENCE / FREMONT
In a very old town, possible the first hollywood, there is a very cool bar. Charlie Chaplin made over 200 silent movies in Niles California. There is an amazing canyon, deep and green that leads to this town. They call it Fremont but is is really Niles to the locals. Pulled into the Fremont district, City, a block of historic buildings and then there is the Florence. This bar has a tunnel in the back room cover by plexie glass, used by bootleggers years ago. We set up and the crowd is very nice to welcome us, the owner is a cool dude, grad of UCLA. Some very good friends are here tonight from New York and Boston. They are Californians now but still love the East Coast. They grab a table and in between sets we are visiting and catching up. I like the bay Area a lot.
SUNDAY, APRIL 1 - FLORENCE / FREMONT
We roll to the Florence in the afternoon,pulling up to a lot of bikes in front and the BBQ smoking on the patio. Lots of people here, patchs and colors, everybody is mellow and enjoying the good weather. My good friends Scott and Lynn walk in and I feel better already. I'm into ripin on the guitar and Chad and Rich are having a good time playing music and meeting people. The biker gals are not shy so dancing is happening from the start, a few are with me at the microphone, moving and dancing. Scott is very cool and knows the riders from the San Jose area, he is a long time rider and his girl Lynn is just a ray of sunshine in the room. We get talking on the breaks and it is interesting to learn how important it is for all bike owners and riders to stick together so they can vote on laws that they don't think are right. The clubs watch out for their own, with everybody being cool and diggin on a perfect spring day and the start of good weather for bike runs. Rockin' the Blues music is a good soundtrack for an event like this. Reminds me of some Rolling Stones shows I've seen. Everybody hangs in there to the last song, dancing and partying. My buds, Scott and Lynn are good friends, thank you two! We pack up the gear and get ready to drive to Southern Cali in the morning. Another good one.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE FOLKS WHO MADE LAST WEEKENDS SHOWS A ROCKIN' LOT OF FUN!
EXCITED ABOUT WORLDWIDE RADIO PLAYING SONGS FROM THE NEW CDS!
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Sunday, March 18th, 2007 2:37 PM PDT
FRIDAY, MARCH 23 - TORCH CLUB, SACRAMENTO
This weekend is going to be huge! Ok, Chad, Paul and I meet in the morning, load the gear and are on our way. Over the grapevine and up highway 5 towards Sacramento. Now this takes six hours so a stop at Harris ranch, buy some Cal. oranges. Phone just rang. I will be right back.
Ok, I'm back. This weekend top keys man Kirk Nelson is on the road with us. Kirk and his wife are traveling in their own car, we all gather at the hotel in old town Sac. Check in and head for dinner at Hamburger Marys. I love playing the Torch club and tonight with this line up is going to be a blast.
SATURDAY, MARCH 24 - GUALALA HOTEL, GUALALA
On a great weather day we drive to the Redwood coast of Cali. Along highway 1, lots of twists and turns with an amazing view of the ocean. Paul, Chad and I pull up to this very historic hotel in Gualala. Talking with the owner as he offers us dinner and room keys. Terrific vibe, set up and unwind in a 200 year old building! As folks pour into the bar and main room, you can feel the excitement of one of those nights when it is going to be a lot of fun. Still rocking after minight and meeting lots of cool locals, we let the "Good Times Roll" and call it a night. Wow, look forward to visiting here again!
SUNDAY, MARCH 25 - LOU'S PIER 47, SAN FRANCISCO
We have breakfast at a small cafe at the edge of the north part of town, Kirk has tire trouble on the car so he heads for Petaluma. With the Allman brothers on the truck CD player, it's down the coast to San Francisco and the Fishermans W., Lou's Pier 47. My good buddies are here, Rick, Mike, Thomas, little Rick, his girl and my San Jose friends Scott and Lynn. Major great day and the band ripps into the tunes. Kirk adds his sound to the trio and the jams are long. Thank You to my friends for the support in the bay area, I always play harder when my friends are in the room. What a run to Northern Califoria this last couple of days has been.
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Sunday, March 11th, 2007 2:41 PM PDT
FRIDAY, MARCH 16th - SKIPS HARLEY - DAVIDSON / RIVERSIDE
Paul Cassarino and I drive to riverside through heavy traffic, before the gig we stop at a well known CD store to meet with the manager regarding product I have on sale. Smooth and on our way when Paul spys some rare Robert Plant and other jems. Next we pull up tp Skips Harley - D, set up outside on the lawn. Chad is lost out on the ten freeway without a cell phone. Chad is resorceful and borrows a phone and is soon back on course. He arrives and we rip into the tunes with everybody checking out a hundred or so bikes in the lot and on the street in front of us. At 9pm we load up the truck, and with Kobe shooting amazing overtime shots for the Lakers on the radio, we glide into LA.
SATURDAY, MARCH 17th - BLUE DOG TAVERN / LONG BEACH
Ok, the big night for the bars is here. Major drinking, money to be made for the taverns. Tonight Kirk, Adam and Chad are on stage at this very happening Long Beach bar. You know tonight is gonna rock! I can't even take a break, two hours into it, the place is having so much fun. We take one break for twenty minutes and play another two hour show. Past 1am and on. The place is almost out of control. We say goodnight and drag the gear to the truck, wow, St. Patty's day is Big!
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Sunday, March 4th, 2007 10:35 PM PST
FRIDAY, MARCH 9th / HARLEY'S / SAN BERNRDINO
Adam and I meet Chad at the club, my first time here. Good sized room with a dance floor, cool bar that offers food. We roll out the tunes, one after another, a table of girls are rockin and we get a few dancers. Adam is touring at the end of the month and Chad tells a few road stories on our breaks. The manager is very supportive and time flies by and into the night, onto the freeway, back to Los Angeles at 2am.
SATURDAY, MARCH 10th / CASINO PAUMA / PAUMA VALLEY
With Malachi Nathan on Bass and Adam Gust on Drums we drive deep into the San Diego Mountains on a winding road to this mountain top casino. The drive takes a long time so I send the guys to get dinner and stay at the stage to finish setting up the PA. It is a long night and I try my best to make this a pro show. After a set, a few friends I have met here at past shows drop in and visit and things start to mellow out. I like the security team and club room staff, they are always trying to make our visit a good one. I wear a suit for this show and I respect the Tribal leaders and indians for working to build a quality casino. Returning to Los Angeles tonight around 4am makes this a fifteen hour work day.
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Sunday, February 25th, 2007 5:19 PM PST
FRIDAY, MARCH 2 SAPPHIRE LOUNGE - ALHAMBRA
I have two friends that come to this club to see the show and they have a few drinks, dance, have a lot of fun and are blind. Carlos and Patty are very cool and I visit with them on break and they inspire me with their ablity to get out and live life. The staff here is terrific, Bobby, Acea, Dru, Charley and the gals working the tables. Tonight is Oscars last night on Bass for awhile as he joins with Kofi Baker to build a Cream like trio to find work.
SATURDAY, MARCH 3 SAPPHIRE LOUNGE - ALHAMBRA
Playing back to back shows is great at the same club. The gear stays set up and you can walk in and hit it. Kirk Nelson on Keys, Paul Cassarino on Drums and Chad Watson on bass and this outfit is smoking hot tonight!We travel to the Bay Area next week. The Sapphire has been good for me not only because it is in metro Los Angeles, close to drive to, but because the crew here is very cool and great to work with. This club pulls a full house and tonight it is rocking as always. The owner Charley knows good bands so the folks get pro bands and Charley has built a hit bar both in look and feel of this establishment.
SUNDAY, MARCH 4 HINANOS - VENICE
You got to love a Sunday afternoon. Kick back and take it easy. The beach in Southern Cali is very nice on a day like today. Not much rain this winter so you feel spring on the way. Rich Smith, Chad and I run through the tunes getting ready for the three of us to work in the bay area later in March. Today is fun because Star and a nice friend stop by to listen and say hello. I meet a new legal wizard at the bar named Lance and we are off talking business. It is always amazing the talented people you get to meet when you are just saying hello to folks.
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Sunday, February 18th, 2007 9:02 PM PST
SATURDAY, FEB. 24th
IN VENICE AT HINANOS 5:30pm - 9:30pm
Adam Gust and I drive down Venice Blvd. on a cool day heading for the beach. After a turn onto Washington we pull up to Hinanos, double park and run the gear inside. Chad shows up and we go over the set list. It is nice to be in Southern Ca. and mellow to be here on a Saturday night. We are standing in for a band and helping out M.A. who runs the bar. Carlos and Brian are bartenders tonight, long time Hinanos crew members. I have played here for over three years and just like the place. The history here is that this is the famed hangout of The DOORS. Seen in the Oliver Stone movie too.
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Sunday, February 11th, 2007 5:44 PM PST
THURSDAY, FEB. 15th - COZY'S BLUES, SHERMAN OAKS
With an all-star line up of musicians, tonight is a breeze rippin into the tunes and having fun. Many of my friends are here tonight and a chance to catch up with Rick guitar ace Brannon, Mitchell my PR bud. Joe Robb from Cherokee studios and a bunch more friends I don't get to see very often. Just a cool night at one of Southern Cal's best Blues Rooms!
FRIDAY, FEB. 16th - PITCHER HOUSE, HERMOSA BEACH
Oscar and I drive down the 405 and into Hermosa Beach. To a long time famous biker bar and popular hangout. The crowd is rockin' and with Kirk on keys and Adam on drums we turn in a roadhouse set. Complete with people sending shots to the stage and a two hour nonstop set. Feeling it tonight.
SATURDAY, FEB. 17th - CASINO PAUMA, PAUMA VALLEY
More and more people are coming to this gig to see the band and not to gamble. Thank you for buying the CDs and really great to meet and make new friends in this part of California!
Thursday, February 8th, 2007 6:05 PM PST
FRIDAY, FEB. 9TH / WE ARE ROCKIN' IN MONTCLAIR AT JANIE'S SPORTS BAR
This club rocks. Very local hang out with everyone partying from a long week. The crew here is very nice to work with and sometimes I feel this is a Friday night at a local bar all across the United States. Good times, pool tables and cold beer, with some Rockin' Blues music.
SATURDAY, FEB. 10TH I AM ON THE KEY NOTE PANEL IN HOLLYWOOD FOR THIS YEARS HUGE D.I.Y. CONVENTION!!!
Arriving and parking on Hollywood blvd. and in to a very old and famous theater. This event is in it's seventh year and offers a lot of good info for the indie artist. The founder of CD baby is the key note speaker and his speech is filled with great tips. I am on a panel answering questions with Chuck E Weiss, Jose Cotton, Pete Anderson and other indie recording artists. I enjoyed this event very much and was excited to be invited.
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Sunday, January 28th, 2007 7:48 PM PST
FRIDAY and SATURDAY, FEB. 2 & 3 - AT THE SAPPHIRE LOUNGE IN ALHAMBRA
Nice to see my friends Carlos and Patty this weekend. After being away for a couple of months good to be at one of my favorite clubs for the weekend. This is a fun part of Los Angeles that not everyone knows about.
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Monday, January 22nd, 2007 7:53 AM PST
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26th SAND DOLLAR BLUES IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Our first road trip, Chad Watson, Adam Gust and myself drive towards Vegas. From L.A. it is a liitle over four hours and a smooth drive across the desert. Oscar has joined the Kofi Baker Band, although he is still working a few shows with me as well. With the famed Strip up ahead we pull into town and druve to the Club. Inside we meet the very nice booker and we are soon off to the hotel. Cool digs with a view, and I'm on the phone to locate the best place to eat at one of the casinos. All you can eat for one price is best for the band. My nephew Jonthan works here in Vegas and we plan to meet later at the club. With a sound check and the addition of my own monitor system on stage, we rip into the tunes. A great club and cool crowd gets us into the evening. I'm cranking on the axe. Adam is the best on drums and Chad who is a pro from working many tours with people like Freddy Fender is playing strong. Vegas is a late night town and we don't finish until 2:45am.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27th at the BILLET BAR IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
Breakfast at the Palace Casino and we drive towards AZ. Driving over the Hoover Dam and I look at the big clock on the AZ. side and they are an hour ahead of Nevada. Wow, I didn't figure on that. Moving across the desert Chad and Adam catch some shut eye, the truck runs quiet and I like to listen to the seris radio broadcasts from around the world.
With some hard core country on the CD player we pull into Scottsdale for tonights show. Tonight is a very special night because my niece doesn't know we are here to play for her surprise birthday party at the club. Shannon's husband Will is a fireman in town here and has put together an amazing night of dinner out then Shannon walks into find family, friends and myself for a surprise. Everything goes smooth, the club is into it and the place is packed with regulars and about 50 harley's out front. The night is a blast, sing a longs, dancing and wild eyed partying. My sister gives me a hug and we can't believe how much fun this event turned out to be. I look forward to playing this bar again.
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Monday, January 15th, 2007 7:18 PM PST
SHOWS THIS WEEK ARE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17 HOLLY STREET BAR AND GRILL / PASADENA
Well after all these years an old friend from my days of playing music in San Francisco is here tonight, Mr.Tip W. Tip is a very hot guitar player. He got my number from mutual friend guitar maker Kunni at Performance guitars. It has been a long time but with good friends it is like yesterday, we used to jam together and gig at places like the Palace of fine arts. The show is smooth with Rich, Oscar and Kirk and I moving across the set list. Wearing a nice DK suit and playing it cool. Can't help but think how lucky Dean Martin was for his cool stage show and Beverly Hills vibe. Those were the days. Special thanks to friends like Adam Gust, Steve S ( Bassman) and Rena for being here tonight. Nice to meet Rich Smith's girl friend and her Mom. Thanks everybody at Holly Street for a very nice evening.
FRIDAY, JAN. 19 GREEN'S SPORTS BAR / VALENCIA
Chad Watson on the Bass tonight, Paul C. on drums and a lot of friends here tonight. Great to see my friend Bill and friends from his birthday party awhile back. Santa Clarita Blues Society out in force with the very talented Toni Dodd sitting in with us tonight on vocals. A lot of musicians here tonight with Guitar Shorty drummer Dwight Payne, musicians Lee, Eric and friends. I don't get out this way much, but it is a good time here in the Valley.
SATURDAY, JAN. 20 SAN PEDRO BREWING COMPANY / SAN PEDRO
Rippin guitar player Steve S. is at NAMM today in Anahiem and has a pass for me to check out the new gear. With parking impossible he gets a pass for my truck and in to the convention I go. Wow. I drop by my amp company Mesa Eng. and string company Ernie Ball. Can't help but see a demo on Marshall amps. I see Stieve Wonder, Mick Mars and Creed. Great day of talking shop with fellow axe man Steve S. Big David Storrs, an old friend and I visit for a few minutes as well. He is into the future of computers and music. All good stuff!! Back home and ready for work tonight.
One of the coolest towns in Southern Cal. It looks like San Francisco with hills, old buildings and a port of ships. On a back alley we load in to the brewery and set up. Kirk is with us tonight and has a lot of friends and family here. The show is rocking and Rick from Ricky Genes stops in to see the band, digs the sound and books us at his club. I like this town.
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Monday, January 8th, 2007 4:25 PM PST
THIS WEEK:
FRIDAY, JAN. 12 / JANIE'S SPORTS BAR / MONTCLAIR
Nice little local bar off the 10 freeway. Packs out with the local crowd that likes to party and have fun. On this night it is packed and Oscar, Paul and I rip into the tunes. We drove down the 10, but the frewway was jammed, next time the 210. The talk is about football and the playoffs. The temputure outside is bitter cold. We will move the gear quickly tonight at load out.
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Monday, January 1st, 2007 1:23 PM PST
SHOWS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK:
FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 / TAILGATERS SPORTS BAR / BRENTWOOD
On our way north to start the brand new year. Wow, 2006 was a good one with plenty of good times and lots of music. Adam G. from the band Red Elvis's is on drums along with Oscar Huguet on bass for this run. Great weather and smooth sailing ahead as we pull into Livermore not far from the club in Brentwood. With talk of John Madden and football we head over to Tailgaters to set up. Ripping into the songs, all of a sudden in walks Thaxter Daggs! This is his home part of California and he has a lot of friends here tonight. Rocking the house he jumps on the drums and we are back together playing like it was yesterday that the three of us would travel and Rock the blues. Nice! Ben the club GM and I make plans to book a show here during the Brentwood Corn Festival in July. It is going to be a great year!
SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 / TORCH CLUB / SACRAMENTO
We check out and make our way to Old Town Sac, I love this part of the city. The old buildings, tree lined streets, and on Saturday it is just local residents and easy to get around. My favorite eatery in the area is Hamburger Mary's, funky but excellent food. We walk over to the Torch club because our gear is there already. I look forward to playing here because the crowd always comes to party. Tonight is on fire,with everybody dancing and singing along. One of the best gigs ever. Wow! Adam and Oscar are laying down heavy dance grooves and the club is packed full of people out to rage. We play an encore and hang around to talk with folks. Just a huge night. I live for these kinds of shows, it 's just a good feeling everybody gets.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 7 / LOU'S PIER 47 / SAN FRANCISCO
Crossing the bay bridge into the city on a great weather day. Clear and cool and down to the club, right on the water. It is very quiet today and I have not seen it this empty before. Maybe because the New Years events last weekend pulled all the crowds, well we are still in San Francisco and up for playing music. We are set up and ready and my long time buddy Michael B. and his son Thomas come up the stairs and into the show room. Wow! Just when you think you could use some good vibes in walks a friend. We get a chance to catch up on the holiday news and visit between shows. The crowd is small but mighty as a lot of people here tonight have Monday off and feel like having a good time. You know what? So do we and we rip into some Rockin' Blues Music!
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This year we played about 150 shows statewide and we continue
to perform at clubs, bike rallies, casinos, fairs and festivals in all corners
of the Golden State. It's always nice to meet people and visit at the shows.
Everyone I talk to is usually excited about where they live, what’s going
on in their lives and their future. A lot of people have moved to California
from around the country and their enthusiasm carries on the American pioneer
spirit. Every part of the state is amazing to visit. It is always incredible
to travel around California!!!
Thunderfest - Bluesapalooza/Covina
featured Brad Wilson on the Mainstage
Saturday, October 20th 2007
Brad Wilson performed on the mainstage of the World Famous Gilroy Garlic Festival in 2007.
Brad Wilson headlined the
Visalia All Music Festival in 2007.
Brad played at the
Biggest California bike rally of the year:
The Independance Rally in Hollister
on Saturday, July 7.
Coarsegold, October 07
All Music Festival in Visalia on July 20
Visalia All Music Festival
Brad with Visalia Promoter Bruce B.
Gilroy Garlic Festival on July 26
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JJ's Blues in San Jose on July 14
On stage at the Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival in
Visalia
06-23-07
Shoreline Village, Long Beach. Photo courtesy of Robert W. Cardiff
Independence Rally, Hollister, CA 2007
Brad with Big Rick
Scott the Sax Man with BW
Matt, Connie, Jeff, BW, Jim
Mark, BW, Robert
Kris, Mark, BW, Robert, Jana, Jim
Independence Rally, July 2007 - Hollister, CA
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Connie & Steve
House of Blues, Anaheim October 2007
House of Blues, Anaheim October 2007
Kevin, BW, Linda
Thaxter, BW
Friends from Coarsegold
Friends from Alleghany
Thunderfest - Bluesapalooza/Covina
features Brad Wilson on the Mainstage
Saturday, October 20th
Alleghany Rockin The Ridge Bike Run on Sept 15 & 16
Brad with Caree, Owner of Casey's
Jojo
Steve with Joe Robb
BW, Joe, Steve
 g
BW, Joe
Bluesapalooza in Covina
BW & Joni
Joni in Alleghany
Alleghany September 2007 - Steve McCormack, Adam Gust, Brad Wilson
08-24-07 Lou's Pier 47 San Francisco, CA
Brad with ace guitarist Steve S. outside of the Fog Bank in Capitola
Visalia All Music Festival, 07-20-07.
JJ's Blues Bar, San Jose. photo courtesy of Danielle Stolman
Gualala Hotel, August 25
Mike Buckley, Brad, Thomas, Rick Smith - Bay Area Dudes
Thank you to Scott, Lynn and everyone for the fun afternoon at the Rockin The Blues BBQ 2
JJ's Blues Bar, San Jose. photo courtesy of Danielle Stolman
JJ's Blues Bar, San Jose. photo courtesy of Danielle Stolman
Thanksgiving 2007
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Chief Crazy Horse Inn, Nevada City
Venice, CA
Santa Barbara, CA
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