Bman's Exclusive Interview: Alex "Crankshaft" Larson

Bman: Hi Crankshaft. Thanks for taking the time to talk with me. I stumbled on your music on Youtube a few months ago and I really dug your style. I have a particular love for guys who are willing put it all out there by themselves.

So when did you learn to play guitar?

Crankshaft: I learned how to play guitar in 1996 when I was 12. How I got my first guitar is a hilarious story. My uncle had a Squire Strat and Marshal amp that he didn't use. I wanted it really bad. He also was planning on building a shop to work on heavy equipment at on some property he purchased the year before. Right about the same time my step dad replaced the old combination wood/oil furnace (which you can burn used motor oil in from a shop) in our basement with a new natural gas one. He tried to sell it in the paper for a couple weeks and gave up. He told me if my dad or any of his friends would like to have it they were welcome to take it for free. So I jumped at the opportunity, I offered it to my uncle if he would give me his Squire! I think that pretty much sums it up. I was destined to become self employed!

Bman: I think you are on the right track. I really enjoy your deal. Your photos and videos that I have seen show you playing an old Silveretone. I love primitive gear as well. Is that what you have been recording with?

Crankshaft: Yep, I love the sound of that thing! I've recorded three CDs with that guitar now.

Bman: I have an old Bobcat with the gold foil pickups but want to get one with the Lipstick pickups. They have such a cool tone! What kind of amps are you using for gigs and recording?

Crankshaft: For both gigging and recording I use a Musicmaster Bass amp form the 70's, It has a 12" speaker and I think it's about 12 watts tube so it breaks up at a reasonable volume for gigging. Sound guys love it because it gives them all the control!

Bman: Johnny Winter is also a Musicmaster guy. Check my posting of his amp blowing up on stage.
Bman's Blues Report: Hideaway - Johnny Winter

Who are your primary musical influences? I can hear a lot of things going on but really cool as a solo player like Dr. Isaiah Ross. Gives you a lot of flexibility...but I'll bet taxing as well?

Crankshaft: Oddly enough I wasn't inspired by a one man band to start mine. I just thought it would be a cool thing to do street performing. After awhile of doing that it kinda snowballed on me, now I do music full time! Locally I do both the one man band and do shows with a backing band. Doing three one hour one man band sets I think is actually easier then leading a band! When I'm standing up leading a trio I get really active, I dance, stomp my foot, jump on top of stuff and wiggle the whole time. So when the night is through I'm wiped out. When I'm doing the one man band I get to sit the whole night so that is a bit easier! As far as my influences, for guitar I would say guys like Freddy King, Link Wray, Dale Hawkins, Hubert Sumlin, early Johnny Winter, Steve Cropper, and Elmore James. For song writing I would say hands down my biggest influence is Chuck Berry, a close second Robert Johnson, both of those guys write lyrics in a way that appeals to me.

Bman: Well, that's a great bunch of guys to start with!I also notice that a lot of the photos of you are strewn with debris and rotting "Man cave" metal. I really like that. I suits your sound. I particularly like the dichotomy of you in the brand new tight suit on the souped up bicycle.

Crankshaft: Ya, that's pretty much just my personality! I grew up around heavy equipment so I think it's cool to blend the sharped dressed blues front man look with the low brow junkyard aesthetic. It's ridiculous, but some how cool at the same time! I actually built that bike at my uncles shop when I was 18, it's got a 98cc masonry saw on the back above the rear wheel, and it's fast as hell! We clocked it at 35mph next to my buddy's Ford Ranger when I was in High School! I think people that meet me for the first time don't now what to think about my aesthetic, when I pull up to a gig in my '64 beater station wagon and get out wearing a tailored suit sometimes they laugh and sometimes they are confused! Really, in the end being a performer is just about entertaining people and.... I think I might be doing that?!

Bman: Well, it got my attention. I think it's greaT! So tell me about your new cd, "Lubricated, Loud and Live". I need to get a copy!

Crankshaft: I recorded it at my house gig at the River City Saloon in Anoka, MN. I love the crowd and the attitude of the place, it's a no nonsense biker bar on a busy bar strip in my home town. They have the "If you ain't here to have fun get the F*** out" approach to running a bar and I like that. Every Sunday in the month of June I recorded about an 1 1/2 of what I thought would be the most energetic part of the show onto four track tape. It turned out great, I'm really happy that it captured the energy of the place, the crowd noise is in there too, which I think is cool. On quieter songs you can even hear the bartenders chucking bottles into the trash!

Bman: Actually that's the kind of bars that I prefer. I see that it''s a limited pressing of 500! Are you kidding me? Those will be gone in 3 weeks! Are you going to have a second pressing?

Crankshaft: I don't think so, I like the idea of treating the fans of mine that support me on a regular basis to something that is special, I know that in June someone will ask me if I have anymore copies and they'll be bummed when I tell them they are all gone. I think that my more dedicated fans deserve something unique, because they've earned it. If it wasn't for them I would be out of a job that I love to have!

Bman: I have a copy of your current tour schedule. I'll post that. What else do you have cooking?


Tuesday, November 8th - 6pm - No Cover!
Hell's Kitchen
80 9th St S
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 332-4700
Crankshaft w/Keith
Friday, November 11th - 8pm - No Cover!
River City Saloon
201 Jackson St.
Anoka, MN 55303
(763) 432-0840
Crankshaft w/Elmer
Saturday, November 12th - 3pm
Scott ONeil Benefit
The Friendly Buffalo Bar and Grill
16722 198th Ave NW
Big Lake, MN 55309
(763) 263-7766
Crankshaft (solo)
Saturday, November 12th - 9pm - No Cover!
Pub Monique
112 Main St N
Stillwater, MN 55082
(651) 342-1551
Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders
Sunday, November 13th - 6pm - No Cover!
River City Saloon
201 Jackson St.
Anoka, MN 55303
(763) 432-0840
Crankshaft Sundays 1 Year Anniversery!
Plus Live at the R.C.S. CD Release Party!
Thursday, November 17th - 8pm - No Cover!
Tanner's
13655 Martin Street NW
Andover, MN 55304-4654
(763) 767-1500
Crankshaft w/Keith
Friday, November 18th - 8pm - No Cover!
Route 65
18407 Highway 65 NE
Cedar, MN 55011-9558
(763) 413-3550
Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders
Sunday, November 20th - 6pm - No Cover!
River City Saloon
201 Jackson St.
Anoka, MN 55303
(763) 432-0840
Crankshaft and friends
Friday, November 25th - 8pm - No Cover!
River City Saloon
201 Jackson St.
Anoka, MN 55303
(763) 432-0840
Crankshaft w/Keith
Sunday, November 27th - 6pm - No Cover!
River City Saloon
201 Jackson St.
Anoka, MN 55303
(763) 432-0840
Crankshaft and friends
Saturday, December 3rd - 9pm - No Cover!
Tanner's
13655 Martin Street NW
Andover, MN 55304-4654
(763) 767-1500
Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders
Friday, December 9th - 8pm - No Cover!
River City Saloon
201 Jackson St.
Anoka, MN 55303
(763) 432-0840
Crankshaft w/Elmer
Saturday, December 10th - 8pm - No Cover!
Route 65
18407 Highway 65 NE
Cedar, MN 55011-9558
(763) 413-3550
Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders
Thursday, December 15th
Private Party
Crankshaft (solo)
Friday, December 16th - 8pm
Patricks Caberet
3010 Minnehaha Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 724-6273
Crankshaft (solo)
Saturday, December 17th - 9pm - No Cover!
Pub Monique
112 Main St N
Stillwater, MN 55082
(651) 342-1551
Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders
Friday, December 23rd - 8pm - No Cover!
River City Saloon
201 Jackson St.
Anoka, MN 55303
(763) 432-0840
Crankshaft w/TBA


Crankshaft: I'm planning on going out to the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, MS to do some busking and make some connections in April. I'm really looking forward to that! I was able to stop there on my way from NOLA to St. Louis and I loved it there.

Bman: Is there anything else that you'd like to share with your fans?

Crankshaft: I'm working on recording a song called "Louisiana Bayou Santa" that I wrote on my way back home from New Orleans. The song should be finished for release on Black Friday, and will be FREE to download! To off set cost of recording and paying the rhythm section that will be featured in the recording I'm releasing a short run 12.5x19 screen printed poster inspired by the lyrics of the song, drawn by Minneapolis illustrator DWITT - www.dwitt.com. The posters will be $25 after shipping, or available at any of my shows. There will only be 25 released. This is a break even project for me, I decided to release it for free as a thanks to my fans for their support!

Bman: Thanks a lot for your time. Where can one get a copy of "Lubricated, Loud and Live"?


Crankshaft: It will only be available in physical format, you can buy it via PayPal at my website or I will have them at all of my shows until they are gone! Thanks for the interview! Alex.
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Here's Eric Gales' take on the National Anthem - Interview with Eric Gales

Blues guitar phenom Eric Gales was born and raised in Memphis, learning to play at age four from older brothers Eugene and Manuel in imitation of their upside-down, left-handed style (a tradition actually passed down from their grandfather, Dempsey Garrett, Sr., who was known to jam with the likes of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf). Winning his first blues contest at 11, four years later Eric signed to Elektra to issue his 1991 debut LP, recorded with Eugene on bass; Picture of a Thousand Faces followed in 1993. Manuel (who previously performed under the alias Little Jimmy King) reunited with his siblings for 1995's Left Hand Band, credited to the Gales Brothers.

A newly matured Gales returned in spring 2001 to release his debut for MCA, That's What I Am. Often billed as the second coming of Jimi Hendrix, Gales, an adequate singer at best but a dynamite guitarist, suffered for the comparison. Always influenced by Hendrix and the power trio format, Gales' next albums, 2006's Crystal Vision and 2007's Psychedelic Underground, both released by Blues Bureau Records, seemed like facsimile Hendrix albums, right down to the album art. His next two releases from Blues Bureau, 2008's The Story of My Life and 2009's Layin' Down the Blues,Relentless, found the Hendrix influence muted somewhat, but Gales, a breathtaking guitarist at times, still seemed to be looking for a way out of the Hendrix shadow and into his own voice. Gales returned in 2010 with a collection of 13 originals.
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page. We use Facebook to spread the word about our blog. We will not hit you with 50 posts a day. We will not relay senseless nonsense. We use it only to draw attention to some of the key posts on our blog each day. In this way we can get out the word on new talent, venues and blues happenings! - click Here

She Means Trouble - GUITAR LIGHTNIN' LEE & HIS THUNDER BAND

Guitar Lightnin' Lee, a multi-talented rhythm and blues purist, has defied all rational logic by assembling his band with a bunch of veteran rock and rollers half his age. His talent, lyrics, powerfull voice, and boisterous personality match perfectly with his backup band. Thus, creating a supercharged blown out style of New Orleans rock and roll and blues. The youthful exuberance from all members, expecially Lightnin', keeps the music exciting and gives it the vibrance it had in it's heyday.

Raised in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans over 60 years ago Lightnin' had music all around him. After learning from New Orleans blues great, Boogie Bill Webb, Lightnin went to Chicago to find his inspiration Jimmy Reed. When Jimmy Reed wasn't throwing Lightnin' out of his house and telling Lightnin' to go back to New Orleans he was showing Lightnin' his style of Delta Blues via electrified Chicago. After moving back to New Orleans Lightnin' played with and around such New Orleeans legends as Earl King, Fats Domino, Ernie K-Doe, Little Freddie King, and scores of other brilliant New Orleans musicians. Lightnin's ears were wide open to the sound around him and he soaked it up like a sponge. For years he listened, learned, and honed his playing and song writting skills in the best of company.

In 1997 Lightnin' found a young drummer, Paul Artigues. They played together for years working on their sound. With the addition of slideman Ted Mathews and bassist Marvin Hirsch they formed the Thunder Band. Guitar Lightnin' have released two 7 inch records on die Slaughterhaus Records and a self released CD. They have played such major festivals like Ponderosa Stomp '07 and '08 and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival '08. Lightnin' is always looking forward to recording and can't wait untill he is going to Amsterdam.
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page. We use Facebook to spread the word about our blog. We will not hit you with 50 posts a day. We will not relay senseless nonsense. We use it only to draw attention to some of the key posts on our blog each day. In this way we can get out the word on new talent, venues and blues happenings! - click Here

Blues For Roy - Fred Chapellier

Fred Chapellier voit le jour en 1966 à Metz, (France). Plongé dans le rock et le blues dès le plus jeune âge grâce à ses frères ainés, c'est vers 1978 qu'il décide d'apprendre la batterie, instrument qui l'attire particulièrement. Après 3 ans de pratique, un beau jour de 1981, rendant visite à un ami, il s'essaye à la guitare...Eureka...C'est la révélation. Il troque immédiatement sa batterie contre une copie Gibson. Une histoire commence, la guitare ne le quittera plus jamais. Fort d'un très bon bagage rythmique, Fred travaille plusieurs heures par jour pendant plus de dix ans. Il s'essaye à divers styles musicaux mais revient toujours à ce qu'il appelle la base :"Le Blues".! C'est au début des années '90 qu'il forme son premier blues band "Kashmir" avec lequel il tournera 4 ans. Puis viennent les années "Men in Blue" ou Fred partage le chant et la guitare avec le Franco Américain "Big Joe Barret". Deux cd 4 titres verront le jour en 1997 et 1998. .. ....Mais Fred se sent rapidement à l'étroit.. .. et souhaite reprendre les commandes de sa propre musique. Dans sa recherche pour une plus grande liberté de créativité, en 1999, il décide de partir de son côté pour former son groupe : « Fred Chapellier Blues Band » suivi par le duo basse/batterie de Men in Blue, Abder Benachour et Pat Machenaud. Fred en profite pour recruter un jeune pianiste Damien Cornelis. Ensemble, ils enregistreront deux albums « Blues Devil » sorti en 2003 sous le label Mosaic Music et « l'œil du blues » en 2005. Albums sur lesquels on retrouvera aussi l'excellent Johan Dalgaard (actuel clavier de Johnny Hallyday). Ainsi que deux invités, messieurs Miguel.M et Lorenzo Sanchez. Les cuivres étant assurés par Boney Fields (Lucky Peterson, Luther Allison...) et sa section. .. ....Les critiques sont plus que.. .. rassurantes à tel point qu'en 2004, à l'occasion des « Trophées France Blues » Fred sera récompensé en recevant les prix: « révélation blues » et « meilleur guitariste » de l'année. .. ....Fred .. ..ne cesse de faire parler de lui et, devenu musicien professionnel, il accompagnera, en parallèle à son propre groupe, différents artistes de blues comme :Don Ray Johnson, Boney Fields, Audrey Madison, Neal Black (avec qui il travaillera par la suite sur divers projets et albums),Tom Principato, et bien d'autres géants du Blues (A ses yeux…). Début 2007, fort de son expérience du studio, Fred est plébiscité pour enregistrer, co-produire et mixer les albums de Leadfoot Rivet "Greyboy Blues", Lorenzo Sanchez "Domingo", Tony Coleman (Batteur de BB King) "Bjr Mr Coleman" ou encore "Handfull of Rain" de son pote Neal Black. .. ....La même année,.. .. Fred reprend contact avec Jean Roussel rencontré lors de sessions pour divers artistes. Jean Roussel, fameux organiste, arrangeur –compositeur, mais aussi grand producteur qui a réalisé de nombreux albums pour de grands artistes : Cat Stevens, Bob Marley, Police, Roy Buchanan, 10CC, Thin Lizzy (entre autres…). .. ....Fred a en tête depuis quelques années, de rendre hommage à Roy Buchanan.. .. SON guitar-hero, avec qui Jean a travaillé dans les années 70 (album "you're not alone"). …! Il débute les sessions et enregistre les bases rythmiques et les guitares solo dans son « Blue House studio » à Châlons en Champagne ou il vit. Mais pour Fred, cet hommage doit aller plus loin. Il va ainsi faire appel à ses amis : Tom Principato, Neal Black, Miguel M, Leadfoot Rivet pour que la fête soit complète. Et pour couronner le tout, Billy Price (Chanteur du groupe de Roy Buchanan de 1972 à 1976) accepte de chanter sur l'album . Fred et Jean terminent le travail de production dans la région parisienne au « Shakty Studio », cette fois çi sous la férule de Roussel qui officie derrière la console. Fred composera pour l'occasion le magnifique "Blues for Roy" largement plébiscité par la presse et les radios. Le produit fini sera aussitôt publié en Europe par « Dixiefrog » et aux USA par « Majestic records » il est dans les bacs depuis novembre 2007 sous le titre « Fred Chapellier & Friends – A Tribute To Roy Buchanan ». .. ....Au fil du temps.. .. et durant les sessions d'enregistrement, une grande amitié nait entre Fred et Billy Price, à tel point que les deux hommes décident de jouer ensemble sur scène, ce qu'ils font une première fois en novembre 2007, puis en avril et juillet 2008, en France mais aussi en juin et septembre 2008 aux Etats-Unis. L'osmose est telle qu'ils décident d'écrire des chansons ensemble en vu d'un album en commun. Six mois plus tard, et les chansons composées, Fred s'envole pour Pittsburgh Pensylvannie,ou ils enregistrent "Night Work" écrit en majeure partie par leurs soins. Jeff Ingersoll patron du label Américain "Bonedog Records" décide de co-produire l'opus. Les deux hommes se feront un immense plaisir en invitant Otis Clay (un des rois de la soul Américaine) et ses deux excellentes choristes, sur 4 titres, ainsi que Mark Wenner "the Nighthawks" à l'harmonica. .. ....Cet album, sous les noms Billy Price & Fred Chapellier intitulé "Night Work",.. .. sort sous le label Dixiefrog le 12 mars 2009. Les critiques sont excellentes des deux côtés de l'Atlantique. Night Work prendra la première place du Powerblues dans le magazine X.Roads en France et entrera en 5ème position des blues charts Américains pour se hisser à la première place durant plusieurs semaines. .. ....Fred est enfin reconnu, .. ..non seulement par les Européens mais aussi par le public Américain qui n'en revient pas de voir ce "little Frenchy" leur donner autant de plaisir. .. ....Eté 2009, Fred recrute le pianiste/organiste.. .. Renaud Cugny . .."En plus de la tendance naturelle qu'il a pour jouer le blues et le rock, s'ajoute le fait que Renaud est un des rares en France a utiliser un véritable Hammond B3, ça fait vraiment une grosse différence"... Fred". .. ....Début octobre 2009,.. .. Fred est contacté par un ami (ingénieur du son Parisien), qui lui propose de travailler avec Jacques Dutronc qui prépare une nouvelle tournée. Fred accepte évidemment l'invitation et passe 15 jours en Corse dans le repère du Gentleman....(pas cambrioleur). Le courant passe très bien entre les deux hommes, à tel point que Dutronc propose à Fred de partir en tournée avec lui. Certaines choses ne se refusant pas, Fred accepte et se voit engagé pour une année de travail avec JD! Un cd & dvd "live au zénith" sortirons le 22 novembre 2010. A suivre... .. ....L'agenda : .. ....2010 : .. ..FRED EN TOURNEE DU 8 JANVIER AU 12 SEPTEMBRE 2010 AVEC JACQUES DUTRONC. .. ....Mai 2010: .. .. Sortie du coffret CD Live + DVD Live Billy Price & Fred Chapellier "Night Work tour". .. ....Octobre 2010: .. .. Sortie de l'album "2000-2005 The French Years", qui est une compilation des meilleurs titres de "blues devil" et "l'oeil du blues". Fred à, pour l'occasion, réenregistré les guitares et les voix et bien sûr tout remixé. .. ....Début 2011 : .... Enregistrement d'un futur nouvel album. .. .... + Concerts toute l'année.. .. .. ..............
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Fur Peace Ranch - Jorma Kaukonen

In This Issue 2012 Concert Series Practice Aloha! Rare Steady As She Goes Artwork Raffle Return to Beacon Theatre FRESH CATCH! 11/12 Electric Hot Tuna          Fur Peace Station           Pomeroy, OH          SOLD OUT!! 11/17 Jorma Kaukonen Student Union, Great Hall, UNC           Chapel Hill, NC 11/18 Jorma Kaukonen          The Grey Eagle           Ashville, NC 11/19 Jorma Kaukonen          The Melting Point           Athens, GA 11/20 Jorma Kaukonen          The Pourhouse           Charleston, SC 11/30 Jorma Kaukonen          Savoy Theater            Helsinki, Finland 12/01 Jorma Kaukonen           Skafferiet           Vasa, Finland 12/02  Jorma Kaukonen            Logomo            Turku, Finland 12/04  Jorma Kaukonen            Gota Kallare             Stockholm, Sweden 12/09  Electric Hot Tuna            Beacon Theater            New York City, NY 12/10  Electric Hot Tuna            Beacon Theater            New York City, NY Fur Peace Station Upcoming Performances  11/12/11 Electric Hot Tuna with G.E. Smith Our "House Band" takes the Fur Peace Station Stage for the last ride of the season. SOLD OUT! FPR Workshops November 11-14, 2011  Jorma Kaukonen with Marjorie Thompson: Carnegie Hall: Level 4 This a master class for the experienced fingerstyle player with a substantial repertoire, and performance experience. The class will focus on certain essential aspects of musicianship, and assume that technical skills, picking hand prowess and knowledge of the fretboard are already securely established. By working on a few exemplary songs, the class will dig deep in exploring how these may be turned into performance pieces with emphasis on dynamics, timing, tasteful improvisation and feeling. Jack Casady: Bass Guitar Fundamentals Level 2 This workshop introduces basic scales, left and right hand techniques and simple bass lines. Soon, students will learn the skill of "walking" the bass, playing shuffles, blues progressions, extended lines and octave substitutions with patient instruction from a master player. You will get hands-on experience, learning fundamentals and creating the rhythmic drive for country, blues and rock styles. G.E. Smith: Electric Guitar: Electric Blues and Rock: Level 2/3 This workshop will explore the basics of blues and rock guitar and will provide the tools for creating exciting, dynamic lead solos. you will learn the sound and form of electric guitar from its most elementary licks through improvisational blues and rock playing. Whether you are a new electric guitar enthusiast or experienced, this workshop will improve your playing and expand your knowledge of electric guitar. Please Note: G. E.'s classes do range in size from 12-16 students. FULL Live From Fur Peace Ranch    Here are the performers you'll hear coming soon on the WOUB-FM weekly radio series Live From Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch. Broadcast Dates and Performers:   Check http://woub.org/listen/furpeaceranch for upcoming performers and broadcast dates. ATHENS, OH 91.3 FM WOUB-FM Friday nights at 7:00 PM Sunday 12:00 AM Monday 1:00 AM CINCINNATI, OH 89.7 FM WNKU-FM Sundays 09:00 PM ITHACA, NY 90.1 FM WITH-FM Saturdays at 10:00 AM You may also listen to WOUB-FM'slive stream. Or visit WOUB'sArchives. Audio files are updated weekly (excluding repeats). Due to right's restrictions, most programs are only available online for four weeks. WOUB welcomes your feedback! Drop them a line: radio@woub.org. Contact Your Local NPR station and let them know that Live From The Fur Peace Ranch! is available to them for free through Airplay Direct.  ITunes   New Releases  New to iTunes this month:  11/06/2011 Jorma Kaukonen Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA This months edition is fresh from the road . . . not even a week old!  Features a Genesis plus a Water Song encore!  Read more about this show in Jorma's Blog Post. 02/05/2004 Hot Tuna Duo The Venue  of Scottsdale Scottsdale, AZ A great outing from Jorma and Jack.  This night features many classics like Re-Enlistment BLues, Serpent of Dreams, Uncle Sam's Blues and some newer tunes like Heart Temporary and Living In The Moment. Jorma's iTunes directory  Hot Tuna's iTunes directory  November Birthdays Rory Block Guy Clark     Happy Birthday Everyone!

FPR News   November 2011   Give Thanks!        With Thanksgiving just weeks away....Jorma and I would like to express our deep gratitude to all of you for your support over the last 14 years. When we were still building the Ranch and knee high in mud everywhere, it was a daily occurrence to panic about whether or not we were doing the right thing. Would anyone come? Would we get musicians to share their knowledge of their instrument and share their stories? Was there even a market for what we were offering? Could we keep it running? Would we go broke trying? I am sure everyone that ventures into a start up business experiences what we experienced. It is overwhelming. The vision was the easy part....making it happen was the challenge. It is with complete confidence that we say it was our students that showed us the way. Throughout this journey we learned more than we ever thought we would in a lifetime, about ourselves and our commitment to the music. Mistakes were made and some things just didn't work. They were all gifts wearing a disguise of pain. I don't use the phrase "pain" to say that it hurt. The pain is the glory and the glory is the gift. Nothing should come that easy otherwise why would we ever try? At least that's what we teach our children. But we also teach them that the bigger the gift is when we commit ourselves to our passions. That it is all part of living a righteous life and at the end of the day when you've worked hard for what you believe in.....your soul in full. Our collective souls are full today and the Ranch is our gift for trying to live well. Thank you all! Have a Happy Thanksgiving and we will see you all out on the road this winter...hopefully in Maui walking down the beach with us in the early morning before Jorma's class. Aloha.... Vanessa 2012 Concert Series Tickets Go On Sale Tuesday, November 15, 2011 To get your tickets - the time is now! Tickets go on sale Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at the Fur Peace Company Store.   Here's the line-up: March 17, 2012  John "The Hurl" Hurlbut and Acoustic Hot Tuna March 31, 2012  Bill Payne and Friends, plus an interview with long-time Grateful Dead publicist Dennis McNally. April 14, 2012  Teresa Williams and Larry Campbell April 28, 2012  Guitar Masters: Clive Carroll, Laurence Juber, and Frank Vignola with Vinny Raniolo May 12, 2012  The California Guitar Trio June 2-3, 2012  Tommy Emmanuel June 16, 2012  "This Land is Your Land" A Woody Guthrie Tribute in words and music with Country Joe McDonald August 11, 2012  Hot Tuna Duo and The Persuasions August 25, 2012  Jesse Colin Young Band September 8, 2012  Steve Kimock & George Porter Jr. September 29, 2012  Roy Book Binder and The GE Smith Band October 12, 2012  Verlon Thompson and Chris Hillman with Herb Pedersen October 27, 2012  The David Bromberg Quartet November 10, 2012  Electric Hot Tuna with special guest Bill Kirchen   Practice Aloha! Fur Peace Ranch On The Road Royal Lahiana Resort Maui, Hawaii January 16-20, 2012 And January 23-27, 2012 Week 1: January 16-20, 2012 Jorma Kaukonen: Acoustic Guitar: Engines Revving; Now Shift Gears: Level 2/3   This workshop invites participants at the middle/higher end of level 2, as well as more experienced players (level 3), for a solid ride into technique and repertoire building. Songs will be taught in their fully decorated versions, but the class will include breakout groups and individual sessions with the instructor, to custom-tailor the experience for each participant. At minimum, there should be some experience with using alternating thumbpicking for establishing a bassline. We will also focus on adding the melody line as a counterpoint, and expand on the use of chord inversions and variations that add spice to the pieces covered. Fur Peace Ranch On The Road Royal Lahaina Resort Maui, Hawaii Week 2: January 23-27, 2012 Jorma Kaukonen: Acoustic Guitar: Songwriting: All Levels Jorma will teach his first ever Songwriting workshop in Maui! Jorma will illustrate in a workshop setting how he charts the path of a song from his heart to his hands and voice. Chris Smither: Acoustic Guitar: Let Your Guitar Be Your Voice: Level 3 The two major influences on Chris Smither's guitar style were Lightnin' Hopkins and Mississippi John Hurt. This workshop will demonstrate how he has combined aspects of their playing to form his own style.  The goal is to show students how to make a guitar arrangement that is an integral part of a song, as opposed to mere accompaniment; how to use these techniques as a stimulus to song-writing in which the guitar part becomes the song instead of an after-the-fact embellishment. Join Jorma Kaukonen and Chris Smither in Maui at the Royal Lahaina Resort from January 16 - 20 or January 23 - 27, 2012 for a bucket list experience and a winter break that will leave your friends envious and wanting to join you.     Join us in Maui... It's well worth the trip!     Tuition*: On Site: $2200 at the Royal Lahaina Resort  Off Site: $1800 (For locals, or make your own lodging accommodations at one of Maui's many fine resorts or inns.) Tuition includes 12.5 hours of workshop instruction, All Meals (Monday dinner, all day Tues, Wed, Thursday and breakfast on Friday), Lodging (with on-site tuition), concert with instructors! *Please note that airfares are not included. Extended Stays: You may extend your stay at the Royal Lahaina Resort for up to 3 days on either side of your workshop (for a total of 6 extra days). Fee: $200/night (based upon double occupancy), add $35 for each additional person.   Last winter much of the nation was pounded with heavy snows!!  Bring the loved one(s) too . . .    Guest Fee: $325/pp includes lodging (with enrolled student), meals, student performance, instructors performance, all other activities excluding workshops.       . . . But not Hawaii!!   Sign up now and be apart of the FPR On-The-Road Hawaii 2012 workshops and escape the cold, dreary winter and experience the Hawaiian sunshine and Aloha spirit! Practice Aloha! Rare Steady As She Goes Artwork Print Raffle for Good Works Inc. of Athens, OH This is your last chance to buy a ticket! Up for raffle is this rare print of the cover artwork for the new Hot Tunarecording Steady As She Goes! Artwork: The cover artwork was designed by Kevin Morgan, of Kevin Morgan Studios, who has been creating artwork for Hot Tuna and The Fur Peace Ranch for over a decade. Paper: The print is full color, printed on Strathmore 400 series drawing paper described as acid free, heavy weight, durable, medium surface. Printer: The print was printed by a Hewlett Packard Design Jet 1050C Inkjet Printer/Plotter which will have you believing it was printed on a large commercial printing press. Frame: Black border frame with conservation glass. Measurements: 19.75" x 25". Signatures: Kevin Morgan (artist), Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady. Rare: Only 13 prints were made! Most are in the hands of band members, album producers, recording industry executives and promoters, but this one could be yours for a $10 raffle ticket! All proceeds from this raffle will be donated to Good Works Inc., of Athens Ohio. Good Works, Inc. is a COMMUNITY OF HOPE for those struggling with poverty in rural Appalachia. Good Works helps those in need by providing housing, meals, and skills-training among many other activities. Find out more about Good Works, Inc. and how you can become involved by visiting: http://www.good-works.net  The winner will be picked/announced during the Hot Tuna Allstars performance at the Fur Peace Station Concert Hall on November 12, 2011. (You do not need to be in attendance to win.) Purchase tickets here! Electric Hot Tuna Beacon Theater New York City December 9 & 10, 2011 Hot Tuna puts a wrap on 2011 with two nights of Electric Hot Tuna at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, December 9 & 10, 2011. They had such a great time playing with their friends last year for Jorma's 70th, that they decided to bring along some friends they have collaborated with in the past year along for the ride. Charlie Musselwhite, master of the harmonica, who toured along with Hot Tuna and Jim Lauderdale earlier this year on the Hot Tuna Blues tour will be hanging with the guys.  Charlie's talented harmonica playing and history steeped in the blues is a perfect blend to the Hot Tuna being served!  So if you missed Charlie with Tuna earlier this year.  Now is your "second chance!" Steve Kimock will also be joining in on the fun.  Steve played with the guys last November at the Ranch, and taught a workshop as well.  (You can listen to the second set of the show online from the WOUB website). Steve adds a new element to the Tuna stew with his wide range of playing styles that can progress from jazz-influenced rhythms to Roky Erikson (13th Floor Elevators) styled psychedelic leads. (Steve will be returning to the Ranch in September 2012 for another workshop and performance with one of his many accomplished cohorts, George Porter Jr, who will also be teaching.) David Bromberg, often referred to as the guitarist's guitarist, will bejoining Hot Tuna at the Beacon too!  Jorma and David find themselves performing together a few times each year, and their roots run deep.  It will be interesting to see if he comes acoustic or electric . . . only one way to find out! Steady As She Goes collaborators, producer and multi-instrumentalistLarry Campbell and vocalist Teresa Williams, will be joining Hot Tuna. Larry's playing skill and ability to lend his talents in the form of different instruments gives the Tuna performance an added, fifth dimension.  Teresa's vocals are beautiful, emotional, but beware she can reach down deep and pack a wallop when its called for.  When she and Larry performed at the Ranch this spring she just 'bout tore the roof of the Station!  If you haven't seen Larry and Teresa on stage with Hot Tuna, you owe it to yourself to do so!  Just ask anyone who has! (Larry will be returning to the Ranch next April for a workshop.  Teresa will be joining him on Saturday, April 14th for a performance in the Fur Peace Station.) This will be a great way to recap the year with Hot Tuna and their special guests featured in 2011! Saturday is just about sold out and Friday isn't far behind! Get your tickets now!      And get to the Beacon Theater!     We'll see you there!!!

2012 Workshop Incentives! 1st 2012 enrollment - Regular Price 2nd 2012 enrollment - save $75 3rd 2012 enrollment - save $100 4th 2012 enrollment - save $200 Offer Expires: November 09, 2012

HAUNTING, HYPNOTIC GROOVES FROM ICONOCLASTIC TRANCE BLUESMAN OTIS TAYLOR

HAUNTING, HYPNOTIC GROOVES FROM
ICONOCLASTIC TRANCE BLUESMAN OTIS TAYLOR

Otis Taylor’s Contraband features Cassie Taylor, Larry Thompson, Anne Harris, Jon Paul Johnson, Chuck Campbell, Ron Miles, The Sheryl Renee Choir and more

BOULDER, Colo. — Otis Taylor isn’t defined by any single category. A musical alchemist and a true innovator, Taylor has never been afraid to experiment beyond the blues tradition. He’s a master craftsman who has created his own signature “trance blues” style by melding haunting guitar and banjo work, syncopated rhythms and a combination of gruff vocals, shouts and yells with raw passion.

“When I sing, I just do what I do,” Taylor says. “Whatever comes out — that’s the way I leave it. And if I make a mistake, I leave it in. I like to keep the emotion.” Otis Taylor’s Contraband is evidence of that. Set for release February 13, 2012, on Telarc, a division of Concord Music Group, Taylor’s new album finds the artist on familiar thematic terrain: love, social injustices, personal demons and war.

The album takes its title from an article that appeared in the May/June 2011 issue of Preservation Magazine about runaway slaves who during the American Civil War escaped to the Union lines at Fort Monroe, Va.. Known as “contraband,” they lived in camps where conditions were often worse than life on the plantation.

Otis Taylor’s Contraband isn’t just speaking to the African American experience, but to the entire human experience. “I’m not really a protest singer or even a very political person,” says Taylor. “I just try to tell an interesting story and let people interpret it as they wish.”

On Otis Taylor’s Contraband, the iconoclastic bluesman is reunited with several longtime collaborators including the supple-toned Ron Miles on cornet; pedal steel guitarist Chuck Campbell from American Sacred Steel gospel group the Campbell Brothers; djembe player Fara Tolno, a master drummer born in Guinea, West Africa; fiddler Anne Harris from Chicago, Ill.; and the Sheryl Renee Choir. Bass is handled by Taylor’s daughter Cassie and Todd Edmunds. Rounding out the band are Jon Paul Johnson on guitar, Brian Juan on organ, and Larry Thompson, former house drummer for Colorado’s world-renowned Caribou Ranch recording studio.

The recording took an ominous turn in April 2010 when Taylor became victim of a serious illness and had to undergo major surgery. “I found out that I had a cyst connected to my liver and my spine,” he says. “I’ve always had a bad back, but the cyst was as big as a softball and it was pushing on the nerves in my spine. It was a pretty serious thing. So I went into the studio three days before the operation and recorded seven acoustic songs . . . just in case. If you listen to parts of the album carefully, you can tell I was in excruciating pain.”

Otis Taylor’s Contraband offers 14 compelling originals. “The Devil’s Gonna Lie,” a rousing showcase for the entire band, opens the album with Taylor’s trademark howls and a demonic laugh. As he writes in the liner notes, “When there is peace, the devil wants war. When there is love, the devil wants hate.” On “Yell Your Name,” one of the project’s original seven acoustic tunes, Taylor sings about a man wants his lover to come back.

The insistent rhythm of another acoustic love song, “Look to the Side” spotlights the distinctive sound of Taylor’s specially made electric banjo. Of the foot-tapping “Romans Had Their Way,” he says, “I wrote this song in the ’60s when I was a kid, listening to groups like the Kinks. This is the only old song on the album — all the rest are new.”

A stark meditation on race, “Blind Piano Teacher” tells the story of a young black piano teacher who lives with an older white man, while a man begs a woman for compassion on “Banjo Boogie Blues.”

With its swirling guitars and hypnotic lyrics, “Contraband Blues,” a song about Civil War slaves who were held by the Union Army as contraband (or captured property), is the powerful centerpiece to the album. “During the Civil War, slaves were free, but not as people,” Taylor says. “We don’t usually think of people as contraband, but this is about treating humans as animals.”

The bleak and haunting “Open These Bars” — the longest song on the album — refers to the Jim Crow years in the South, when a black man could be lynched for just looking at a white woman. On “Yellow Car, Yellow Dog,” a poor man wishes he had money and could win the love of a woman. Taylor calls this “one of my more poetic songs.”

“Never Been To Africa” is the simmering tale of a black soldier who’s fought all over the world in World War I, but has never seen Africa. There’s desperation in Taylor’s voice when he sings “Cold sweat running down my leg, I can feel the gas coming across my face, I know I don’t believe in war, but I’ll fight anyway.”

On the final track, “I Can See You’re Lying,” Taylor captures the energy and emotion of romance and relationships perfectly. “It’s another one of my dark, twisted love songs,” he says.

By taking blues music as an art form to a higher level altogether, Otis Taylor’s Contraband is both subtle and challenging. Another thought-provoking entry in his canon, Taylor’s eighth Telarc album is the follow up to Clovis People, Vol. 3, released in May 2010.

“It’s all a balancing act,” Taylor says. “A new album has to be different, but you can’t be too different. It has to be the same, but not exactly the same. It’s like a riddle.”
 

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Trance Blues Jam Festival

On November 25-27, 2011, hundreds of musicians will come together for a celebration of the art of creating music when Otis Taylor presents the first annual Trance-Blues Jam Festival. The line-up includes world-renowned guitarist Bob “Steady Rollin’” Margolin, banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka, multi-instrumentalist Don Vappie, bassist George Porter Jr., guitarist/vocalist Standing Bear and Cassie Taylor, among others. The event begins with a pre-Trance Jam hosted by Taylor and his band with guest artists at the Boulder Outlook Hotel.

Live Tracks and Extras - The Motives feat. Matt Taylor

A new band project brings together some of the finest talent from the European blues scene. The Motives draw their musical inspiration from 40s New York, 50s Chicago and 60s London, combining Matt Taylor's electrifying guitar work with Jonny Dyke's virtuoso hammond and piano over a rock solid rhythm section of Roy Martin on drums and Andy Graham on Bass. Their new album is released Spring 2012.

• Digital Album

  Immediate download of 6-track album in your choice of MP3 320, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire.
  
  
  
  

  
  

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Features two recent live tracks from The Motives, a preview of the single 'The Rules Don't Apply' and the Matt Taylor Band tracks (featured in The Motives live set) 'Fat Tuesday's Blue', 'To Be Alone With You' and the title track from Matt's 1995 debut album 'Radio City Blues' - ALL FREE!

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Cant Be Satisfied - THE LIVIN' THE BLUES BAND - Mike Packer correspondent

The Livin' The Blues Band is a 4-piece outfit from the New York/New Jersey area who play Chicago Blues. They are pure entertainers and top musicians who know what the audience desires and know how to deliver the goods. High energy is what Livin' The Blues is all about.

The band consists of razor edge vocals and firey harmonica by frontman Jack Bernice. Jack sat in with my band @ BB Kings in New York City one night and drove the crowd wild! Hap Moore is the guitar player and he is simply fabulous. Mark Jacobs is solid on bass and the keeper of the clock Rich Rogers on drums rounds out this exciting blues band.

If you have not witnessed one of their shows you are truly missing out on a complete entertainment extravaganza. Catch them if you can! They can be seen and heard @ The New Park Tavern, 250 Park Avenue, East Rutherford New Jersey.
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page. We use Facebook to spread the word about our blog. We will not hit you with 50 posts a day. We will not relay senseless nonsense. We use it only to draw attention to some of the key posts on our blog each day. In this way we can get out the word on new talent, venues and blues happenings! - click Here