Nigel Mack and the Blues Attack
There was quite a bit of very good blues going on this Thursday night. I started out up at Brewbaker's for the Nigel Mack early show (KFAI night). From Canada, Mack is a versatile player starting out on guitar, then to slide guitar and finally finished off the night on harp. With each instrument seemingly sounding better. He closed out the show paying homage to one of his inspirations, Paul Butterfield with Born In Chicago. He is a "very" good player and I would recommend you see him next time he is in town. He also was at La Playette', in St. Joseph the following Wednesday.
The Blue Band
Since it was still early I drove to the Whiskey Junction to see the Blue Band from Iowa who were packing the place by the time I got there. Excellent turn out for week night and no wonder, this is another very good band who mixes up the material from straight blues, to soul, to country, to R&B to, "you name it." Molly plays a mean electric violin. And this is one of the few bands you can see who not only have 6 different lead vocalists but where the white male singers all sing the black female parts on Mr.
Big Stuff. Fun evening!
The Keller Brothers Band
But it didn't end there. I thought I would run by Tom Reid's Hockey City Pub in St. Paul on the way home to catch the last set of the Keller Brothers Band. Good thing too. This was one of those nights where you just happen to catch an excellent band in a "really good mood." This was a new venue for them and an interesting place, with all the hockey memorabilia on the walls, I was waiting for the Zambonie to come out and clean the ice during the break. Matt Farrell was up dancing and singing (al la lounge style) at the end while Mike played some of the rawest/sweetest Hound Dog Taylor style slide you will ever hear.
We sure have some great blues in the Twin Cities, most of it free of charge-and this was just a week night. On Friday I will catch Koerner, Ray and Glover at the Cedar then down the street to Whiskey Junction for Shakey Jake Neuman. Just too much good blues to see it all. Check out the Calendar Page here at Blues On Stage for a dozen other "TOP FLIGHT" local blues bands and let me know who you have seen that impressed you.
This review is copyright © 2001 by Ray Stiles, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.
