What has been described as "The Year's Best Little Unknown Blues Festival," will not work for Baily Ray's marketing much longer, as this one day blues blowout is not "little@ any longer and if they continue to put on the type of show they did on June 19th, it certainly won't be unknown for very long.
This year's "Shakedown", might go down as one of the best attended and run shows of the year.
The show featured four great acts, Inside Straight, "Big Daddy" Cade and the Blues Masters--Tribute to B.B. King, the legendary Lamont Cranston, and headlining, off his top rated television show, Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts.
Inside the Baily Ray's, was Inside Straight that kept the music going while acts on the main stage did equipment changeovers. In addition, they played inside the club, after the outdoor show was over.
This five piece band is one of Minneapolis's tightest. Much of the material they were doing was off their killer new CD, "Straight Up--Down & Dirty Live! On The Mississippi".
Inside Straight features some of Minnesota's finest musicians in the forms of: Bill Swanson-keyboards, Kurt Koehler-guitar, Mark Zmuda-bass, Paul Strickland-sax, and the incredible, Curly Martin-drums.
If you have a chance to experience Inside Straight live, don't pass up the opportunity for some real deal blues!
As to the outdoor portion of the Shakedown, Mother Nature lended a hand with no rain, very comfortable temperatures, and a night of live rockin' blues that one soon won't forget.
First up was Billy "Big Daddy" Cade and the Blues Masters tribute to B.B. King show.
Cade and the Blues Masters have been traveling the Midwest doing extensive dates for the past few weeks and arrived at the "Shakedown" from a sold out show at Lake Okoboji's infamous Roof Garden Ballroom the evening before.
The Blues Masters are one of the more accomplished blues acts on the scene. When you have a group that can do a 90 minute show with all the class and style that is fitting B.B. King, you have a hot act.
The group featured: Smokin Joe Shelly-bass, Eddie Vespa-piano. Max Felshein-sax, Aaron Weiner-trumpet, special guest B-3 player, Paul Testa (Corey Stevens) and dynamic young drummer, Bill "the Hawk" Tourville.
The feature was Chicago's own, Billy "Big Daddy" Cade, serving up one of the finest 90 minute live blues sets one will experience.
His look, sound, and playing style is almost "erie" as how close he comes to Mr. B.B. King.
The crowd new they were seeing and hearing something special, as they gave Cade & the Blues Masters a true standing ovation. What a great way to kick off the show.
Next up were true Minnesota blues legends, the Lamont Cranston Band.
All the very talented Cranstons were in top form as they served up a set 90 minute set of swingin', rompin' and movin' blues as only Lamont Cranston can.
Pat Hayes was especially "on" this evening, and we heard much more harp work from Hayes than one would normally expect. His harp playing was a real hit with the huge crowd.
A lady from Iowa best summed up Lamont this way. "You guys in Minnesota do not know what you have in the form of Lamont Cranston". She is probably right, they have been a part of our live music for so long, sometimes we forget what we have.
There is no question, Baily Ray's had a much larger crowd than in their previous two years for the Shakedown. There is little question, Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts played a significant role in the sizeable crowd this year.
Belushi's Sacred Hearts were basically the same lineup as the Love Will Travel Band that Belushi and his partner, Dan Aykroyd used this past year for their early Summer show at the Minnesota Music Cafe.
The Sacred Hearts led by drummer Tony Braunagel, proved to be a very strong musical group, featured some of Los Angeles's best. This specific line-up is the "house band" at L.A.'s House of Blues.
Belushi was in fine form and put on a very animated stage show and proved to be in great vocal form.
Prior to the show, Belushi spent over one hour at an autograph table adjacent to the stage signing autographs for all the fans as well as selling the new "Have Love Will Travel" CD.
Most of Belushi's show consisted of material from his old Sacred Hearts CD and new Have Love Will Travel CD. While one would not call the music pure blues, it was great soul, R&B, and fun entertainment.
A well founded congratulations needs to go out to Baily Ray's for serving up one of the best live outdoor shows we will probably experience in 2004.
Shakedown Notes:
** What a job Rico Anderson of Rico Entertainment did with this show not only in putting together a stellar line-up, but producing a great live show.
** We leaned that Lamont Cranston has been signed to headline La Crosse, Wisconsin's Oktoberfest Blues Bash. One of the best late live music shows of the Fall.
** The Twin Cities Blues News copies that were handed out, were really well received by the large crowd. Great exposure for the blues.
** It was great to see one of musics premier live photographers on hand in the form of Tom Asp. This guy is the best of the best!
** Top selling CD's at the show included: Inside Straight's "Straight Up---Down & Dirty-Live", Lamont Cranston's "Lamont Live", and Big Daddy Cade's "Live From Famous Dave's", which completely sold out.
** The Shakedown color program that Baily Ray's gave out to everyone was one of the coolest live show programs handed out to blues fans in recent memory.
** For any and all drummers out there, this show was like a dream clinic. You had Curly Martin of Inside Straight, one of the best pure blues and soul drummers calling Minnesota home today. Greg Shuck of Lamont Cranston, one of the true solid "in the pocket" drummers you will find in music. Finally, Bill "The Hawk" Tourville, of the Blues Maters, at only 18 years old proved to be one of the most dynamic and exciting young drummers out there today. He turned many a musicians head back stage.
Buy these CDs NOW:
Your purchase through the Amazon.com links at the end of each review, or by simply clicking on this banner (below) to order this or many other products from Amazon, helps to support this website as well as the featured blues artist.
"This review is copyright © 2004 by Tom Tourville , and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without permission."
Copyright reuse notice: If you would like to reprint or use this review please include the above copyright notice, contained within the quotation marks, PLUS this statement: "Used with permission." Then send an email to Ray at: mnblues@aol.com indicating how you are using the review or the website page address it will be appearing on. Thanks!
Your purchase through the Amazon.com links at the end of each review, or by simply clicking on this banner (below) to order this or many other products from Amazon, helps to support this website as well as the featured blues artist.
Click on this banner to get you new low percent credit card:
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! You can help support this blues website by making a contribution (click on the banner below for details).
Or mail a donation to: Ray Stiles % Blues On Stage, PO Box 582983, Mpls, MN 55458. Thanks!
Web Hosting & Design:
CLICK HERE for Web Design SPECIAL, get your own website for just $75.
The most affordable web hosting and design services available. Click Here
to find out how you can host your current site at Blues On Stage, or how I can help you design your own website!
If you would like your CD reviewed, please send TWO (2) copies, along with promotional material to:
Blues On Stage
PO Box 582983
Minneapolis, MN 55458-2983
E-mail Ray Stiles @ mnblues@aol.com with any questions.