Live Review
    Joe Juliano Band
    Farewell Gig
    MN Music Cafe
    July 28-29, 2000
    by Jacquie Maddix
    Photography copyright © 2000 by Ray Stiles (color), all rights reserved.
    1999 KBA Award Winner
    Achievement for Blues on the Internet
    Presented by the Blues Foundation
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    blues picture On July 28th & 29th, the Minnesota Music Cafe hosted the two night farewell performance of the Joe Juliano Blues Band. The place was packed Saturday night, with a diverse crowd ranging from sincere t-shirt wearing fans to hard-core bikers to singles out at the "meat-market" with their shopping carts. Joe's six piece band kept folks on the dance floor all night, giving the bartenders and waitresses plenty to do to keep up with drink orders. The general atmosphere was sweaty, loose and noisy. In short, just what you'd want as a band if you were playing your last gig together. The band members did their best to make sure folks were happy and satisfied. Joe was a pleasure to behold, working the crowd, hugging everybody, giving answers to all the questions why. "Well", he responded to a guy dressed in a motorcycle club t-shirt, "That's the way it is for now. But I'll still be doing the Wednesday jam....." Before he could finish answering that guy, another fan walked up looking to express his condolences.

    The fans were courteous and sympathetic in support of the band. But no matter how many CDs they bought, it was obvious they just weren't buying it...the fact that the band was breaking up. Chalk it up to the sophistication of today's blues fans or to their on-going exposure to the dissolution of other Minnesota acts. Even keyboardist Andy Bailey caught the groove of the crowd. As the band was taking their places for the second set, Bailey remarked over the microphone, "This is pretty good...2 nights of the 'last gig' thing", he turned to Joe, "I dunno...Lamont Cranston made it last 10 years..." But of course it was the last gig, wasn't it. The big sheet cake couldn't be wrong. "Last gig gives me the blues" the frosting said in chocolate as it outlined a big yellow guitar. Wife Debbie Juliano played hostess, serving up 2 inch pieces of cake to the crowd who willingly washed it down with beer, wine or whatever was handy. "I love these guys", said fan David Buck, around a mouthful of cake, "I only came out cause the paper said it was their last gig". His date Janey hit the dance floor, taking David with her, cake and beverage still in hand.

    blues picture "Officially, the band's going on hiatus", Joe told me when I could finally grab his attention from a group of well-wishing female fans. "But unofficially....it's me. I'm looking for more...from myself...from my work." He looks around the club, a wanderlust evident in his eyes. "I dunno...it's been five years and I'm just not getting enough out of the gigs. Maybe I need to write more or somethin'......" Distracted by hugs from the crowd, Joe's gig face goes back in place, while he tries to explain to the people that which appears to be unexplainable, even to himself. His advertised bonding with the Prime Time Players may or may not take place, but every Wednesday, he'll still be at the Minnesota Music Cafe, hosting the blues jam. However, all this hiatus stuff still leaves Joe Juliano as a man without a tribe of his own for a while.

    The skilled players that embody the Cup 'O Joe Band will have no trouble finding other homes...other gigs. In fact, I know a female blues singer whose looking for a funky-good band right now. That kind of thing isn't a problem for the kind of professional side men who are as well versed in soul, R & B and blues as Joe's guys are. No, the band won't be out looking for places to go. But who's gonna take the band leader with the wise-cracking ways and the mobster hat? Only time will tell.

    www.joejuliano.com

    Jacquie Maddix
    Rollin’ & Tumblin’
    4-6:30pm
    KFAI 90.3/106.7FM Twin Cities


    This review is copyright © 2000 by Jacquie Maddix, 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.

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    Mailbox E-mail Ray Stiles at: mnblues@aol.com

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