December 2010

Bonjour mes amis,

In this issue of South of France Blues;

• More on Hugh Lawrie Sings the Blues
• Blues at the Crossroads : Robert Johnson Centennial Tour
• The birth of Brit Floyd
• Beatles, and Lennon's "I'm Only Sleeping", go on sale
• A pardon for Jim Morrison?
• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun with "Memphis Blues"
• The best list of Blues concerts & gigs in France
 and more.

So was that my psychic side coming out in my last blog? Not only has Warner Music Entertainment announced that Hugh Laurie’s debut blues album will be out in Spring 2011 but, Tom Jones will be one of his duet guests – I did mention Tom in the same paragraph as Hugh didn’t I?

Tom Jones

Well, it remains to be seen, or heard, what James Hugh Calum Laurie OBE will do to the blues but I’m not so sure he should have chosen Tom Jones to help kick start this epoch of his varied career. However, looking at the comments on his Facebook page the ladies seem to like the idea. Stay tuned.





Sadly bluesman Albert "Little Smokey" Smothers passed away on Saturday 20 November 2010 aged 71. The talented Chicago guitarist had had a lengthy illness.
Born in Tchula, Mississippi on 2 January 1939 he later moved to Chicago, on the heals of his big brother Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers (I assume there was just the two of them!!!). 

Through the years Little Smokey accompanied Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, and Magic Sam - and a few others - both on stage and in the recording studio.
Influential in helping Paul Butterfield form his blues band he also mentored Elvin Bishop, who later took his place in the band. This collaboration with Elvin Bishop led to the 2000 recording of "That's My Partner".
Smothers final recording was in 2009 with "Chicago Blues Buddies", the proceeds from which went to help offset his growing medical expenses. R.I.P.

Four years after she released any new music, the wait is finally over and if there was ever a song fitting for Amy Winehouse’s trials and tribulations it is Lesley Gore's 1963 hit ‘It’s My Party’. Laid down in April with Mark Ronson for a Quincy Jones tribute album, doubts may remain about the coherence of her wandering vocal but there's little denying its enduring aura, all dressed-up in the producer's typically authentic sound. But is this cover enough to rebuild her shattered career? I suspect it is back to black for Amy!

Long known as the "devil's music," thanks to the legend surrounding bluesman Robert Johnson's alleged deal with the devil at a Mississippi crossroads, "Old Nob," as he's known, has become firmly identified with blues music. The devil is often just a metaphor used by blues singers to describe a cheatin' woman, a bad boss, or even the evil in the world, and not a literal being. Still, from his first appearance in Clara Smith's 1924 song "Done Sold My Soul To The Devil," the devil persists in the culture of the blues.

Marking the 100^th anniversary of the birth of Mr Robert Johnson is the “Blues at the Crossroads” tour starting January 2011 in San Francisco. On tour will be the “Two Man Wrecking Crew” of Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcolm, original Delta bluesman (and friend of Robert Johnson) David “Honeyboy” Edwards, and the great Hubert Sumlin (former Howlin' Wolf guitarist).

Winding its way through the States the “Blues at the Crossroads” tour is currently scheduled to complete in March 2011 in Urbana, Illinois. Other venues and dates may be added. If anyone is listening out there – don't forget us in Europe.

Oh, I almost forgot, there will be an accompanying tour album – of course.

Pink Floyd

Yes, I know that Pink Floyd was not a blues band but there are blues links. The blues influenced Syd Barrett and, Gilmour's solo style is often characterised by blues-influenced phrasing. And, of course, the name was concocted by Barrett combining the names of Pink Anderson and Floyd Council when, in a blind panic, he had to find an alternative band name to The Teas Set – hence Pink Floyd was born. A miracle really. Can you imagine a band called The Tea Set making ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ or ‘The Wall’? No, nor can I.

Anyway, the Pink Floyd legend lives on with a handful of tribute bands and, arguably the best (up to now) is the Australian Pink Floyd Tribute Band (which I have had the pleasure to have seen play in Lisbon, Portugal in 2008). But, allegedly, a problem has occurred whereby the Aussie members of the band do not want to go on tour in the USA. Perhaps unknown to their American audience the band that they see during this major annual tour is made up almost exclusively of Brits and does not feature the Aussie artists at all. This, as you can imagine, has caused some problems that have

resulted in the members that do tour the States forming a breakaway band called The British Pink Floyd Show (or Brit Floyd for short).

Confused? Well, there’s more. The Brits have just completed their final USA tour as the Aussie Floyd band and they have returned to the UK and will re-appear as Brit Floyd ready to start their inaugural tour of the UK early in 2011.

Willie Nelson has been charged with possession of pot. Apparently his tour bus was pulled over at a check-point set up in Sierra Blanca, Texas. The arresting officer said he could smell pot when he opened the door of the bus. Willie was held for a short while whilst he arranged a $2,500 bond.

A three-day festival on the banks of Loch Ness, in the village of Dores, Scotland, during 10-12 June 2011 will headline Paolo Nutini.

Festival director Jim King said: “We have always said that RockNess is about delivering the best performers. Paolo has proven across his two albums that he is the best act of his generation to come out of Scotland and he is way to becoming one of the very best acts in the world”.

Just as many have celebrated John Lennon’s 70^th birthday it has been announced that his hand written lyrics of "I’m Only Sleeping" will go on sale at Bonhams auctioneers. The lyrics, which he had written on the back of a letter chasing payment for a radio phone bill, are expected to raise between $400 – 560,000. The sale is on 15 December so you’d better get moving.

Meanwhile iTunes have come to the end of a long and winding road and now have Beatles for sale on their web based iTunes Store. All 13 studio albums – from “Sgt. Peppers’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” to “Revolver” to “The White Album” are now available.

During the first week of sales iTunes sold more than 2 million individual songs and more than 450,000 albums. “Abbey Road” was the top selling album and “Here Comes The Sun” the top selling single.

Convicted of exposing himself, on stage, at a 1969 concert in Miami, Jim Morrison of the Doors may be pardoned.

Gov. Charlie Crist, whose favourite Doors song is “Light My Fire”, has said that evidence maybe flimsy. Doors keyboardist Ray Manzareck said Morrison put a shirt in front of his crotch and wiggled his hand behind it. He briefly pulled the shirt away and said, “I just showed you. Did you see it?”

Morrison was found guilty in 1970 of indecent exposure and fined $500 with a six month jail sentence. But he never did do the time. He was appealing his conviction when he was found dead in a bathtub in Paris in 1971. He was just 27 years old.

Govenor Crist plans to ask Florida Cabinet members to support a pardon. “My heart just bleeds for his legacy and his family” says Crist.

Marking the 40^th anniversay of Jimi Hendrix’s death the box set of “West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology” is on the shelf this month. Featuring four discs of previously unreleased material and alternate takes, they include a full disc of pre-Experience tracks recorded with Little Richard, the Isley Brothers, Don Covay and others.

The box set also includes the documentary “Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child” narrated by Bootsy Collins.

Coming out on the same day are deluxe editions of “Jimi Hendrix Experience:BBCSessions”, Jimi Hendrix Blues”, and “Live At Woodstock”.

Responsible for all this is Jimi’s sister Janie Hendrix who is president and CEO of Experience Hendrix.

Janie says that next year will bring a documentary about Hendrix’s 1969 concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall. “It’s kind of a day in the life of Jimi, how we put it together” she says of the project, which has been two years in the making.

Gibson recently unveiled their “Top 50 Acoustic Guitarists of All Time” with Belgium born Django Reinhardt taking the number 1 slot. Robert Johnson made number 4, Jimmy Page was 17^th, and Eric Clapton got in at 41 on the list.

Being dead does not stop the wheels of commerce turning. “Hold My Hand”, a duet recorded by Michael Jackson and rapper-producer Akon went on sale this month. The song was first recorded in 2007.

Sony will also release a 10 track album “Michael” (to include “Hold My Hand”) on 14 December. 

Another new track “Breaking News” from the upcoming album has met with skepticism by some music critics and Jackson’s family members who are reported to have said that they do not believe the vocals on “Breaking News” really belong to the King of Pop.

The Who are to perform alongside Jeff Beck, Blondie singer Debbie Harry and The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft in a charity concert to raise money for research into a little-known cancer treatment called Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). The stars will appear at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo, London on 13 January 2011.

I've used this picture before and I just love it!

And finally in the news, Rolling Stone Keith Richards is fed up with his junkie image.

Talking about his book “Life” he said: “You get stuck with an image, part of the whole reason for the book was to dispel some of the junkie, dopey, rock and roll … it’s not like that at all. Hey, I can get crazy but I aint’t stupid”

He also explains that he wrote to Tony Blair backing him in his decision to go to war in Iraq. Yep, Keith, you are well and truly stuck with the image!

Back to Blues

Some 40 years after meeting her hero, Cyndi Lauper got the opportunity to work with 85 years old B.B. King.

Her first meeting with B.B. King was in the 1970’s when she was a student at Johnstone State College, Vermont, USA.

Being a school radio DJ the Blues had made an enormous impression on her. So much so her latest, and 11^th, album is “Memphis Blues”.

Not many would have linked the pop queen with the mighty, talented, veteran King but their love of Blues has brought them together.

Cyndi Lauper says that she has wanted to make a Blues album for more than a decade but has only recently found time to put everything together and get down to Memphis.

The 12 tracks are gritty, in the style of a Beale Street blues singer jamming in smokey juke joints. Inspired by the Memphis Civil Rights Museum she says that Memphis was the only place to be to cut this album. It represents the crossroads in American culture and music. “I wanted to be in Memphis. I wanted to eat the food, breathe the air, see the sites, walk the walk.”

Cyndi Lauper hooked up with Scott Bomar, a local musician and producer, who worked with Al Green and Charlie Feathers among many other local and national acts. He helped her assemble a “who’s who” of Memphis musicians to back her up on the album. In addition to Allen Toussaint, Ann Peebles, and Charlie Musselwhite, “Memphis Blues” also features the infamous Hi Rhythm Section and all-stars from Stax and Satellite Records.

Charlie Musselwhite harps the blues in the first track “Just Your Fool”, and a trio of B.B. King, Allan Toussaint, and Cyndi Lauper provide an up-beat little song called “Early In The Morning”.

Track 8 is a version of the classic “Rollin’ and Tumblin’” and features Ann Peebles. The more I play this the more I like it.

It’s not earth shattering but is a good album to own. The girl has done good and – the girl has had fun !!!

The best gig guide under the South of France sun:

December

02        The Honeymen                          Brasserie les Halles, Bordeaux (33)

02        Fred Chapellier                          Salle Jean Vilar, Romans-sur-Isère (26)

03        Nina Attal                                 Le Soubock, Cauville (14)

03        Mannish Boys                            St Céré (46)

03        The Honeymen                          Brasserie les Halles, Bordeaux (33)

03        Cisco Herzhaft                           La Double Croche, Lisieux (14)

03        Dr Feelgood                               Moonwalker, Aarburg (Switzerland)

04        Mannish Boys                             Brive (19)

04        The Honeymen                           Libourne (33)

04        JJ Milteau                                  Théâtre Victor Hugo, Bagneux (92)

04        Fred Chapellier                           Le Splendid, Lille (59)

05        Nico Wayne Toussaint                 Sebastian, Florida (USA)

08        Fred Chapellier                           Vienne (38)

08        Cotton Belly’s                             Showcase Cultura, Villenave d’Omon (33)

09        Cotton Belly’s                             L’Antidote, Bordeaux (33)

09        Nina Attal                                  L’Entrepot, Issy-les-Moulineax (92)

10        Malted Milk                                Le Cadran, Evreux (27)

10        Connie Lush                               Queens Park Arts Centre, Aylesbury (UK)

10        Nina Attal                                  Espace Athina, Saint-Saulve (59)

10        Cotton Belly’s                             Lulu dans le Prairie, Merignac (33)

11        Cotton Belly’s                             El Chico, Bordeaux (33)

11        Connie Lush                               The Flowerpot, Derby (UK)

11        Nina Attal                                  Espace Culturel l’Hermine, Sarzeau (56)

11        Malted Milk                                Espace Culturel l’Hermine, Sarzeau (56)

11        Dr Feelgood                               Eisenwerk, Frauefeld (Switzerland)

11        The Honeymen                           Ergué Gabéric (29)

12        Nico Wayne Toussaint                 Miami, Florida (USA)

14        Nina Attal                                  Découvertes du Printemps, Le Nouveau  Casino (75)

15        The Honeymen                           Chapeau Rouge, Quimper (29)

16        The Experimental Tropical Blues Band    Rogers Bar, Belfort (90)

17        Fred Chapellier                           Bar de Luc

17        Mannish Boys                             Louisiana Club, Marseille (13)

17        The Experimental Tropical Blues Band    La Vapeur, Dijon (21)

18        The Honeymen                           l' Express Bar, Cognac

19        Nine Below Zero                         The Musician, Leicester (UK)

21        Nico Wayne Toussaint                  Delray Beach, Florida (USA)

22        Rachelle Plas                              China Club, Paris

23        The Honeymen                            Quimper (29)

25        Nico Wayne Toussaint                  Jupiter, Florida (USA)

31        Cotton Belly’s                              Festiv’an, La Selve (12)

Don't forget; if you know of a great band playing a gig near you then drop me a line. Even better;  if you are playing in a great band tell me about it !

Have fun, stay warm, and stay safe.

A bientôt

April 2010

RAMBLINGS

Thanks to all those that are keeping me supplied with blues fodder, and a BIG thanks to YOU for reading this blog. I hope you like it. Any comments, advice, or ideas will always be appreciated . And do please pass the  blog link on to any friends. Thanks. 

In this issue we have news of Joe Louis Walker coming to Cahors. The wonderful voice of Connie Lush (see March 2010 issue) will be in France too. Nico Wayne Toussaint, harmonica fantastic, continues with his tour in France and Spain. Malted Milk are running around, and BB King will be in Cognac again.

Other news is that the UK government has announced that they want to put a stop to the illegal downloading of music. I cannot imagine how they will do that, it is all a bit too late, but I wish them luck - after all it is wrong. But then, so is fiddling one's expenses!!!!!!!!!!! What do you think about music downloads and copying? Has the music industry shot itself in the foot? Let me know your thoughts.

WHAT'S ON?
April

01   Eric Bibb is at salle Grappelli, Nice (06)

02   American Gospel Connection is at Palavas les Flottes

02   Eric Bibb is at Mainvilliers -­ Salle des fêtes

03   Connie Lush is at Regneville-Sur-Mer (76)

03   Eric Bibb is at St Rémy-Les ­Chartreuses -­ Jazz à Toute Heure
06 - 10  Nico Wayne Toussaint is at Hotel Meridien, Paris  
15   Nico Wayne Tousaint is at Ruel Malmaison (92)
17   Little Bob is at Le Mans (72) - Circuit 24h Moto
23   Pura Fe is at Merville (59) - Espace Culturel

23   Malted Milk is at Le Thor (84) -­ Le Sonograf   
24   Malted Milk is at Périgueux -­ Les Toquets
25   Pura Fe is at Grande-Synthe (59) - Centre Culturel
25   Malted Milk is at La Roche Posay ­- Festival Images en Scènes

BLUES NOTE

Joe Louis Walker adds to the line-up of magnificent blues artist to perform at the Cahors Blues Festival in July 2010.

Starting out in his teens, in San Francisco, Joe Louis hung out with guitarist Mike Bloomfield and jammed along with visiting bluesmen in the local clubs.

At some stage he moved to gospel and sang with the gospel quartet, the Spiritual Corinthians which, at the time when blues was more clearly defined as ‘Delta’, ‘Chicago’, or ‘West Coast’ seemed to confuse his listeners. But by the mid 90’s he was becoming more consistent and set about setting himself new challenges. Great Guitars (1997), with leaders like Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, and Ike Turner is an interesting feature of his work and reveals his wide knowledge of the blues.

Multiple Grammy and WC Handy award winner, Joe Louis Walker, is now a ‘must’ to see and hear. A guitar legend and a singer/song writer he now relentlessly tours the world spreading his unique style of his blues passion. He now has 19 solo albums and countless compilations with guest appearances.

Joe Louis Walker is truly keeping the legend alive and he is coming to the South Of France this year. Don’t miss him.

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

John Lansley - Musician

John’s first visit to the Aude (11) was more than 4 years ago, when he and his then musical partner made the long trip down from Luxembourg to play at a birthday party. Seduced by the south of France, he has now made his home here and has started to get actively involved in the music scene.

South Of France Blues – What is your musical background?

JL – I started at the tender age of 13 and within a few years was serving my apprenticeship in various bands playing everything from Cream to Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath to Genesis, Pink Floyd to Yes. Over the years I have graduated from what might be termed English Blues through ProgRock, experimental music, reggae, and latterly back to the blues.

South Of France Blues – Guitar favourites and influences?

JL – Early on I guess it was Clapton, Rory Gallagher, Tony McPhee (The Groundhogs), then people like Santana, John McLaughlin, Steve Howe, Bob Fripp, Allan Holdsworth, Mick Ronson. But stand out influences are Peter Green and Jeff Beck – both have superb sense of touch, dynamics and melody, originating in blues forms, but taking the original ideas forward rather than churning out the same riffs.

South Of France Blues – What are your plans now?

JL – I love playing live and have been trying to find suitable opportunities here in France. I also love playing with interesting musicians who are involved in different types of music, and seeing what happens. So creating, writing and recording are also very important to me.

It is clear there are some good musicians in the area, and lots of people interested in listening to live music, but there seems to be relatively few venues capable of providing for the demand. I’m involved with a group of people trying to address this. Watch this space!

South Of France Blues – Aha! Do tell us more...

JL – Well its early days but we’d like to set up a sort of Blues Association which would help put musicians in touch with each other, publicise and even arrange gigs, help with recording projects and so on. But we’ve got some work to do before we’re ready to launch it. Anyone interested in helping should get in touch with me (john.lansley@yahoo.co.uk)!

South Of France Blues – So you’re a professional musician? Or (dare I suggest it) retired?

JL – Ha ha. Neither. I have always wanted to have fun playing and made the decision not to rely on music to pay the rent. My ‘day job’ is in the investment planning field – I was a tax consultant advising expatriates around the world and over the last 20 years have also been specialising in helping people invest their money tax-efficiently, deal with pensions, inheritance issues, and related financial matters. I am a member of the Spectrum IFA Group (www.spectrum-ifa.com) and will gladly discuss either music or finance with anyone!

At the time of this Blog chapter South Of France Blues is working with John to find a suitable venue in the Aude (11) for blues events and for ‘open mic’ jamming sessions. Anyone who can also assist in this direction, or is interested to play, can contact John on the link above or through the comments link on this page.

Loads more gigs coming up in May. Keep watching this space. As the South of France starts to warm up so will The Blues.

A bientôt

Introduction

Hi, this is my first issue of South Of France Blues which will be a monthly online magazine dedicated to those interested in The Blues.

I am not an expert on any kind of music nor do I play music (apart from a few riffs on a Hohner harmonica) but I do love the blues.

Recently I made a visit to the USA, to visit friends, and to find some good blues music. With a couple of exceptions I was disappointed (not with the friends, but with the music!). Some years back I had visited Philadelphia many times on business and often enjoyed a good blues evening in Warm Daddies. Sadly, they have moved to a soulless building away from downtown and, in my opinion, have lost the warm appeal they had in the past. Soul music was being played on the evening I went and both the lady singer and the band would have sounded just as good at half the volume.

In Chicago I was advised to visit Kingston Mines blues club. A much better atmosphere than Warm Daddies and good ribs too. This venue boasts two stages in two rooms. A strange system whereby you can listen to the band in one room until their break and then move to the adjoining room for the start of the second band. The first band was good the second a noise.

Nashville lived up to its reputation as the home of country music. Almost all the bars and clubs had live country bands playing and most were good. The Music Hall Of Fame is amazing and traces the roots of country and blues music and displays memorabilia from Hank Williams (all three of them), Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Elvis, and many more.

Memphis on the other hand was another disappointment. As a blues fanatic I had set my heart on finding real blues in Memphis but, oh dear, walk as often as I may down Beale Street, my ears were accosted with disco music and very poor karaoke. Such a shame.

I did find a blues band called "2 Weeks Notis" tucked down beside a bar and they were doing their best to provide some good music regardless of noise from the disco bar opposite. During their break I chatted to Bill, their lead singer and bass player, and he confirmed that the blues had almost been pushed out of Memphis.

Whilst in Memphis I went twice to BB Kings club, on Beale Street (good ribs too!). The resident band played on my first night and they were OK but not impressive. Don't get me wrong, I like virtually all kinds of music but it needs to be good and this band resorted to 30 minutes of poorly sung Michael Jackson covers - at BB Kings club, on Beale Street, Memphis? No ....................!!

My next night at BB Kings was more for the ribs than the music but boy was I in for a surprise. Playing the early slot was the Will Tucker Band. They comprise Russ Wheeler on keyboards, Randy Middleton on Bass, and Pete Mendillo on drums. Plus, of course Mr Will Tucker, who provides an amazing concert with his guitar and singing ranging from numbers by Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, etc. Whilst listening and watching this young maestro my wife and I tried to guess his age. With his incredible skills and total confidence on stage we guessed him to be around nineteen at least. Were we to be shocked when Pete Mendillo announced that the band leader is only 15 years of age and has been playing the guitar for only three years. Look him up on the above link (however, if you go to his Youtube site I don't think this does him justice).

My final destination on this quest for good music was New Orleans. Another place I have enjoyed in pre-huriccane Katrina days. The French Quarter was not seriously damaged by the floods but I'm afraid it has washed away the music - unless you like disco, karaoke, strip tease clubs, and bad food. Very sad.

So, what's all this to do with the blues in the south of France? Well, my trip also took me to Long Beach, California (just south of Los Angeles) which is a really nice place and home to the "HMS Queen Mary", now used as an hotel. Just as I was leaving my hotel and heading to San Diego I noticed a magazine called Southland Blues, in the lobby, and what a great find it was.

And, this is what has given me the idea to create a blog, in the south of France, for all those that want to keep the blues alive - wherever you are.

Thanks for finding me and reading my blog. In the months to come I hope to provide you with interesting articles on the blues, details on artists and events, and anything else that will keep the legend alive.

Please do feel from to contribute. I need all the help I can get.