Live Reviews
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Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame 2009 "Supportive of the Blues"
The Blues Foundation's 1999 "Keeping the Blues Alive Award"
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Women Sing the Blues 2009
The Whiskey Junction, Minneapolis, MN
October 21, 2009
by Ray Stiles
Photos copyright © 2009 by Ray Stiles, all rights reserved.
These types of shows that the Whiskey Junction puts on throughout the year (blues guitar, harmonica, etc.) are a great way to showcase a large number of local musicians all on one night. Its really a gathering of the local blues community because, in addition to the featured performers and band members, lots of other local musicians are there to join in the fun. And it is a lot of fun for both the musicians and the fans.
This show was a week before Halloween so the club was already decked out with the decorations so the atmosphere was a little "unusual" but still fun. I'm sorry to say I missed the first 2 sets with the evening starting early at 6pm.
A special thanks to Lisa Wenger for putting this together and emceeing and to the Whiskey Junction for hosting the show.
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Molly Maher
Although Molly may not be best known as a blues singer, she and her band, the Disbelievers, deliver more of a bluesy rock sound - but definitely very good. She also plays a mean dobro. Plus we got to hear Paul Bergen, her versatile guitar player tonight (formerly of the Boogiemen, Hillbilly Voodoo Dolls, etc.).
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Dee Miller
Dee is a fun performer with a husky voice who can belt out solid blues, southern soul and some classic R&B. I really enjoyed her all-too-short set tonight and look forward to catching her perform around town in the coming months.
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Annie Mack
From Rochester, Annie was someone I had not heard of before tonight. She was joined by the house band, Phil Schmid on guitar, Jeremy Johnson on drums, Tim Wick on keyboards. Boy can she belt out a soulful song. She is one of those performers that when you hear them you say, "Wow," what a voice. It would be nice to see her up in the Twin Cities more often.
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Sweet Mama J
I was equally impressed with this next performer who was also a surprise to me. She definitely knows how to take command of the stage. Her rendition of Meet Me In Montgomery was slow and soulful. And she had the best line of the night then she asked, "Any women been in prison?" before launching into there's a Riot Going On In Cell Block # 9.
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Kathy Smithson
It's always a real treat to hear Kathy and Everett play their unique brand of blues, Zydeco, and roots music. They are one of the real musical treasures we have in this area and their band, Phil, Jeremy and Billy (who backed many of the performers here tonight) are one of the best around.
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Lady J and Black Cat Boogie
Many of you know Jacquie "Lady J" Maddix from her KFAI radio show every week (Rollin' and Tumblin' on Tuesdays from 3-6pm) where she has been a fixture in the local blues community for many years. Black Cat Boogie featured a diverse set of "Full Bodied Blues," as she calls it, which offers up a fresh perspective on the music we all love.
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Sena Ehrhardt (Plan B Blues)
Decked out with a red rose in her hair and accompanied by her talented guitarist father (Ed Ehrhardt) Sena is another gifted new voice on the Minnesota music scene (playing mostly in southern MN and playing what I would describe as more rock/roots/blues). She lit up the crowd with a mixture of songs from Johnny Cash (Folsom Prison Blues) to Junior Wells (Messin' With The Kid, which was done several times tonight by other performers). She was also very appreciative of the house band who could play anything she asked them to.
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Shannon Curfman
Shannon went on at midnight with a lot of loyal blues fans still filling the house. Its been a few years since I've seen her play and it was nice to see the maturity in her playing and singing. Although I have to say she was just as exciting as she was when she was just a young teenager starting out.
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Lisa Wenger
Lisa was up last to jam with the house band and express her appreciation for a great night of Minnesota Women Blues. She sang a very melodic I'm Your Puppet and finished off the night on a very sweet note.
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Not pictured: Angie Krejce and Brenda Sheperd.
And Lisa had this at the bottom of her performer list with set times.
Beauty tips for a soulful show: -Sam Levenson
- For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
- For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
- For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
- For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
- For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
- People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never through out anyone.
- Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
- The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
- The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives and the passion that she shows.
- The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.
House band and just a few of the other supporting musicians:
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