Soap soon to be made with 100% solar power and Muscle!

We are working on a solar heater to heat the water and solar power for electricity so the entire process will be more green and earth friendly! Currently we use gas to heat the water and we hand mix. So its still pretty earth friendly and green. But it will help us to be better people to use less to make more and try to keep the planet Green and Blue.

Blues in schools donation of 10% from purchase of BIG Bucket of Suds.

Ok Gang, So here we are at another month of many, where I have been not so good about posting. I wear allot of hats and sometimes I forget or simple run out of time to post.. Iam going to try and be better about that now. I keep going back and fourth between my many Facebook pages and of course the magazine where most of my CD reviews have been this year. So if your missing my cd reviews be sure to go over to my Blues magazine www.Blues-E-News.com and check out the reviews. There is a review or two in every issue once a month since the beginning of 2012. I am trying to separate my different blogs by topics!
I have added tabs on this and soon to the other blogs that link between my website and the blogs, in an attempt for you to better follow my posts.

 New, I am selling my hand made Liquid Laundry Detergents and soon soaps and more! I have "try a load on us" free samples available just $2 for shipping and handling. Just let me know and Ill get you a sample. Email me at: wayne@bigwayne.net subgect sample. Also planned in 2013 three e-books! AND YES one is a cook book! for all my foodies that have been following my posts in the mag and on Facebook! I am also still trying to get the video channel sponsored for my Blues In-Que (blues, interviews, and BBQ) during the 2013 festival season.

Frank Gomez CD “Soul Resurrection”

Frank Gomez CD “Soul Resurrection”

Frank Gomez’ latest CD Soul Resurrection is a smooth, somewhat funky and at times jazzy blues album. I’d love to see this guy perform live. He has a unique voice and great guitar work on this album. I dig the horns of course...and the band’s overall sound is reminiscent of 70’s Latin rock band “Malo” with a blues texture.

My favorite songs on this album are “Gift from Heaven,” “Gimme Little Sign”, and most of all the instrumental “Bumpin and thumpin,” nice and funky!

1. Since you've been gone. 6 Nice guitar solo

2. Soul resurrection Title song 6

 

3. Gift from Heaven. 7 Mellow instrumental with a Latin rock grove in the middle of

the song, Nice Hammond and guitar.

4. Our Eyes Never Meet. 5  Nice sax and horns

5. Bumpin' and Thumpin' 6 Funky

6. When I wake up in the Morning. 6 Nice guitar

7. Gimme Little Sign. 7 Old school R & B

8. Back door woman 5

9. Mr. Right Now 6

10. Missin’ my Brown Eyed Girl 6

11. Bumpin and Thumpin’ instrumental 7

Bonus Track:

12. Funky Beat- The Remix 7

Average (mean)	6.1666666667
Median	6
Standard Deviation	0.72
Album Score:	11.45
Album Score (5-star scale):	5.72

 “Check out Frank Gomez’s wonderful soulful Blues. You won’t be disappointed!”  Big Wayne www.Blues-E-News.com

Lou DeAdder

Today we take a listen to Lou’s new CD “Number 5”
Release date - May 1, 2010
Voted Number Two in the "Blind Lemon Top 20 Canadian Blues Albums for 2010"

Winner of the Durham Region Music Society's "Best Blues Recording"
for 2010

 

1. Low Down Feelin’ Blues 4 ★★★★ nice harmonica

2. Get It Up 4 ★★★★

3. Aftermath 6 ★★★★★★ nice horns!

4. Crash and Burn 4 ★★★★ nice grind

5. Guitar Wank 6 ★★★★★ Nice guitar work

6. Jazzy 6 ★★★★★★ nice jazzy tune

7. Tight…Eh? 6 ★★★★★★ this ones going on my IPOD

8. Curtains Calling 2 ★★ to repetitive for me

Average (mean)	4.75
Median	6
Standard Deviation	1.49
Album Score:	9.26

Another talented Blues artist from Canada. Very nice album all originals. Interesting mixture of Blues, Rock, Jazz and Fusion. 8 songs on this album would have liked to see at least 10.

Band consists of Guitar, bass, drums, trumpet, sax Harmonica, keys/organ and background vocals. I personally would like to hear more of the Jazz Fusion. There is real talent here. As a trumpet player myself I have to say that horns are really nice and arranged well! I enjoyed this group and would like to here more. My favorite songs are track 3 track 5 track 7 all the jazz tunes with horns.. what can I say I like songs with good horn arrangements! So my blues fans please forgive me playing favorites to the Jazzy tunes on this album. My opinion these are the best of the songs on this Album! Band arrangements and Especially the jazzier tunes are reminiscent to the band Chicago while the more aggressive guitar playing brings in that fusion feel. The first song “low down feeling blues” is more of a slow honky tonk blues with nice harmonica highlights through out. Album feels a little like a compilation of different bands. But I enjoyed all the styles of music performed on this album.

I look forward to review Lou’s next album, I understand it was recently released and is called “Headlights” as well another CD to be released in October 2011 called Ballads.

”A little Blues, Jazz and fusion peppered with soul and superb musicianship” Big Wayne  of LiveBluesTonight.com & Blues-E-News.com

http://www.loudeadder.com

 

Oppertunity, looking to promote live video on the LBT Network!

Live Blues Tonight
Promoting the BLUES one Gig at a time!

A message to all members of Live Blues Tonight. (You joined our Face Book Group, Now become a member to the site! Its free, for a limited time!)


Hello LBT family,

Big Wayne here. Well we're working on some exciting new opportunities for our Blues Lovers and thought you would like to hear some insights from me.

First we're finally getting ready to launch our Blues Newsletter. So we are looking for ideas from our little group on what you'd like to see in the newsletter. Also we will be offering a few advertising spots for Venues, Bands, Festivals or any other company looking to share their information with us. So please let us know your thoughts and interests on advertising!

Secondly, I have for a while wanted to webcast concerts and gigs on our site. If you are interested in some free publicity for your band, venue or event and would be able to provide a good video and audio feed live over the Internet, or if you can give us a good quality DVD of your band with written permission for us to broadcast it on our site, send me an email so we can talk!

Thirdly, I would like to get more members on our site. I want to do a membership drive! I am looking to our LBT community for support on this. But, I have received little help on this in past membership drives. I know it takes time and what's in it for you right? Well actually, There's a lot in it for you! The more members we have the more publicity you get! The more events you list, the more visitors will come back, which means more exposure! But hey, maybe you want more incentive. Last time I launched a membership drive I won first, second and third place for referring the most new members. LOL! It didn't really work out the way I wanted. So I was thinking... How about the three top referrals listed by new member sign ups will get:

Featured artist, venue, or member on our main page for two MONTHS! (one winner a month) (this is an advertisement spot so if you would rather have an ad, your choice).
Featured on our members page for one year!
Featured in our Newsletter (which we are about to launch) for two months. This is also an advertising spot, so your choice ad or band feature.
A guaranteed CD review, Blues Reviews by Big Wayne!
A quote about your venue or band, By Big Wayne & LiveBluesTonight.com! Good for promotional, and press releases.

Is that enough to get you to share our site with your email and contact list? I built and am maintaining this site all on my own and with little to no financial gain! And I am offering my time to help you! So help us all and give me your feedback, your help, and cooperation in promoting this site which helps us all.


Fourthly, I am looking for venues, Blues Event coordinators, Blues societies, Radio DJs, Bloggers and Writers.... We can help each other! Post your events! Write a review or blog and send me your RSS feed or repost on our site. Advertise and promote your content by starting a blog or discussion on our site! I will help you promote by directing readers to our site with your content!


As always I appreciate this opportunity to share our love for the blues and wish you all the best and sincere respect for your artistry and assistance!

Peace, Love and the Blues...
Big Wayne
wayne@livebluestonight.com
www.LiveBluesTonight.blogspot.com
Blues on demand Internet Radio
Blues Reviews By Big Wayne
Blues Newsletter
Blues Social network
Blues blog host
Blues Event Calendar
Blues Venue promotion
Blues Search Engine
Indie Blues Promoter
Blues Lover and Musician

I can use all the help I can get. if your interested in ways you can help me with this site, send me an email. I can always use more financial support as well. So buy an advertising spot, a T-shirt or make a donation of time or money. Its all appreciated!


Visit Live Blues Tonight at: http://www.livebluestonight.com/

Energy Saving Suggestions

Some energy saving suggestions I have accumulated over the web with some research!

The Paint on your walls The color you paint the walls in your home can cost you Money! Paint the walls of your home a light color. Dark colors tend to absorb light, requiring you to use more energy from light bulbs to achieve the same effect.

Not only do light colors on your walls help conserve energy in your home, they also make your rooms feel brighter and more cheerful! If you are about to paint the walls in your home we suggest you use a low or zero VOC paint. Check out this site from TLC for more information about how low-VOC paint works.

Dish Washer A dishwasher that is 90% full uses 4 units of electricity. If it is only 50% full, it still uses 3 units of electricity. Fill the dishwasher to save on your electric bill.

Energy Efficient Light Bulbs Replacing a single incandescent bulb with an energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulb (one of those "squiggly bulbs") can save up to $50 over the bulb's lifetime. Check out www.greenlite.ca  They have great Light bulbs to replace your old inefficient bulbs and save money being green. Site also has a great savings calculator!

Water Heater Set your water heater to the “normal” setting or 120 degrees unless your dish washer requires a higher setting. Buy a water heater blanket and keep your water heater insulated. You'll save $40 per year. Water heater insulation blankets are designed for gas, oil or electric heaters. White vinyl backed fiberglass blanket. Includes adhesive tape for easy installation. Easy to install with scissors, measuring tape and pencil. Fits up to 60 gallons. *Be sure to leave the air intake vent uncovered when insulating a gas water heater! Insulate the hot water pipes leading from your hot water heater. Easy to do but might be hard to get to all the pipes! Take shorter showers. Wash clothes in cold water.

 

Energy Efficient Windows Up to 16% of your heat can escape through unprotected windows. Close your drapes at night or install insulating shutters to retain heat. If you have a large expanse of glass that doesn't receive direct sun, keep the drapes closed as much as possible. You can also use Packing Bubble wrap and plastic draped in your window. May not be attractive but the energy savings could please your budget.

 You can also purchase and install a vinyl coating on your windows. This is less expensive than new windows and  a reasonable investment for renters and smaller budgets. The film is applied to the inside window.

Its benefits are:

• Crystal Clear
• Reusable
• Saves Heat
• Easy To Install
• Heavy Duty
• UV Stabilized

Check out this site for more information

 

 

Other Drafty areas of consideration Doors! You can buy inexpensive foam rubber insulation to easily seal out the warm sun and cold winter drafts around your doors.

Electrical Outlets can also transfer heat and cold from within the wall. You can use the same Foam rubber tape to seal the air from flowing through. Also you can use Spray Foam. But I don’t like this option as it makes it hard to rework on the fixture in the future.

Fire Place! Close the damper vent tightly when not in use.

Air conditioners and Swamp coolers! Don’t forget to winterize (seal temporarily or cover) your cooling units to keep the cold out!

Furniture? The placement of your furniture is a consideration. Make sure your not sitting in the hot sun shining through the window. You’ll end up wanting the Air conditioner turned on! Also don’t block your heating and cooling system from doing its job just because the Armorer fits best in the spot covering the AC vent!

Vampire switch! 75% of electricity used by home electronics is consumed while "off". By using a power strip and switching off when not in use, you lessen CO2 emissions and reduce your energy bill. Its simple and cheap to buy a Power strip and plug your electronic devices into it. It can protect your equipment from harmful Power surges (if you buy one with Surge protection). And when not in use flip the switch to OFF!

What Kind of Washing Machine is More Energy Efficient? When choosing your next washing machine, pick one with a front-loader. Front-loader models use 25% less energy than a standard model.

Also, simply switching from a hot/warm cycle to a warm/cold cycle when washing laundry can save you 10 cents a load. That adds up when you think about how many loads of laundry you do a year!

Don't forget to look for the Energy Star before making those big purchases!

Check out this TLC site!

Heat and Air Conditioning Filters Check your furnace and AC filters regularly. Cleaning or replacing filters once a month during periods of high use will insure proper air flow, promote better health, increase efficiency, and save money too.

Don’t use your Dryer! During spring and summer months, line dry your clothes instead of using a clothes dryer. This can save you a lot of money each year.

Energy Efficient Thermostats Save You Money Why pay for heat or AC you don't need? You can save energy and money by using a programmable thermostat. It can reduce your energy needs from heat or AC when you are at work, away at vacation, or asleep.

 

Attic and wall insulation Take a look into the attic and see how much insulation you have. I bet you’ll notice how hot it is up there too. That is why you need a solar attic Fan. Anyway, take a ruler with you and see how much insulation you have. It should be light and fluffy! If it is squashed or settled in, than it is more likely to transfer heat and cold into your house. Here is a rating system I have come up with.  

12 inches or more Excellent!

9-12 inches Very Good!

6-9 inches Good!

3-6 inches Fair!

Under 3 inches POOR!

Blow in Cellulose is an option for the do it yourself Handy man. You can rent the machine and buy the Cellulose blocks from many Hardware stores! Doing walls is a little trickier but if you have some Sheet rock skills and not afraid to paint, then you can do it! Also for exterior walls you can give your home a major modernization and a protective thermal coat by adding Poly Styrene Sheets followed by a new Stucco Coating. But this is a skilled project that will require a contractor and a bit more money. Check this site out. Detailed DIY How to step by step!

 

Check out PG&E new online tools for information on your energy usage.

Here is the results of what PG&E’s new savings calculator says I could save from making some simple changes in my home. There new tool is pretty cool and intuitive.

Im sure the savings would be a bit different from house to house and especially for me in the Water heating area. I have 8 people in my house!

Savings Opportunities Annual Savings

Weatherization Doors and Windows:

      Control air leakage $139 - $231

Water Heating:

      Insulate water heater tank and hot water pipes $4 - $7

Install efficient shower heads $71 - $118

Lighting:

   Use compact fluorescent bulbs in recessed fixtures $65 - $80

   Replace halogen trochees $159 - $194

   Use compact fluorescent bulbs in high-use lamps $52 - $64

Heating and Cooling

   Install a programmable thermostat $65 - $108

   Replace your central air conditioner $222 - $370

   Replace your heating system $294 - $490

   Seal leaks in ducts $85 - $142

Information taken from PG&E Smart energy Analyzer on-line.

written by Wayne Rinehart

Great resource websites:

www.ConservingSaves.com Ways to conserve energy and save you money

www.FreeCycle.org  Recycle your unwanted items to someone else in your community.

www.simplysellular.com These people will help sell or donate your old cell phone.

www.SwapTree.com Swap Books, CD’s, DVD’s and Video Games.

www.greenlite.ca  Great Light bulbs to replace your old inefficient bulbs and save money being green. Site also has a great savings calculator!

www.solar-components.com A neat site with some good resources and ideas.

www.windsun.com  www.greenpowerscience.com

www.tlc.howstuffworks.com  www.diynetwork.com

Blues Reviews by Big Wayne: Al Wood and The Woodsmen CD Review

Blues Reviews by Big Wayne: Al Wood and The Woodsmen CD Review

Al Wood and The Woodsmen CD Review

Today we take a listen to Al’s new CD “Mood Swinging Blues”

1. Late Night Stroll 5★★★★★
2. Firefly 6★★★★★★
3. Highway 17 5★★★★★
4. Parting Glass 4★★★★ nice harmonica
5. Diggin’ Down Deep 5★★★★★
6. Treena Ballerina 6★★★★★★ Fun Tune Got me whistling!
7. The Pasture 4★★★★ nice harmonica
8. Feeble-minded Woman 6★★★★★★ Groovy
9. Blame-Shiftn’ Blues 5 ★★★★★ Great solo work!
10. Passenger Freight Train 5★★★★★
11. Rollin’ (Fade Away) 5★★★★★
12. (Enter) Jazz Thief (Exit) You 7★★★★★★★
13. Shake 6★★★★★★ Get up and dance Rockabilly!

Average (mean) 5.307692308
Median 5
Standard Deviation 0.85

Album Score: 9.45★


“I love this album, it’s Romantic and Fun! Many flavors influence this album and it is primed to influence your spirit to bring you out of the blues! The doctor’s prescription is to take a dose of mood swinging blues now!” Big Wayne www.LiveBluesTonight.com


Al Wood is a multi-talented performer and song writer from Ottawa, Canada. Al plays a mean Chicago roots Harmonica and on guitar he is expressive and diverse! On this album Al and the Woodsmen’s innovative style are heard. Many flavors of music are combined, but yet remain unique.
Blues Flavored roots/folk and country influence with, at times, acoustic rhythm of the rails. Thirteen all original tunes make for nearly an hour of foot tapping music that will get you feeling your blues fade away. I felt as if I knew the music even though it was new to me. Clever lyrics, great vocals, awesome Harmonica solos and a fantastic band consisting of Fiddle, Guitar, Acoustic Bass, Drums, Lap Steel Guitar, Mandolin, and Banjo. Had me whistling along with the first song.
My top 3 songs were “Firefly”, “Treena Ballerina” and “Feeble-Minded Woman”; with my favorite being “(Enter) Jazz Thief (Exit) You”. I know that’s 4 favorites not 3. LOL
I really enjoyed all the aspects of this album and can’t wait to see what’s next. Are you all coming to California anytime soon? Let me know!

http://www.alwoodmusic.com

Promoting your gigs and getting more exposure!

A 3 or 4 part resource series by Big Wayne.

Part 1: Introduction

Ok, it’s been a while since I have posted anything here on the blog. It’s not that I haven’t had material to review, although I do have less CDs coming in to review. But my recent absent has been because of the promoting and production of the new LBT Website. LBT, for you newbie’s, is short for LiveBluesTonight.com.  Any way I have worked very hard on the site and the search engine and still it’s just me and I have to do my day job to pay the bills…with this economy that has been a whole other sad story! So I want say thank you for being patient with me, especially those bands that were hoping to be featured in my review. I will post a new review soon. But thought I should post something on the blog before I post the review so to get you all listening again. Are you there… listening that is?

 So, another part of the delay in posts is music. Well I am a musician! I recently started a new band with some friends or let me rephrase that, some friends and I started! And a part of that roll has been promoting, producing and booking. You know up to this point in my so called career in music has shown me that musicians in general are some of the coolest people you’ll ever know. They’re also some of the most neurotic and seriously sensitive people (in a Bad way)! I mean come on! It’s the entire artsy crowd, walking around with their hearts on their sleeves. Me too, I am not exempt by this. I don’t think I am neurotic but sensitive…yes, I am sensitive about my passions. And of course you have the EGOS… Big Headed egos. I could really write a lot about this as I have had the misfortune of this behavior in all of the bands I’ve been in. Not me of course, just a few other people that feel they are bigger and better than everyone else! Give me a break. If you don’t know what I mean about musicians being neurotic and sensitive, yet at times cool, interesting or even exotic, one only has to visit the next NAMM Convention to get an eye full of all that! If you like to people watch this is the place for you!  You will be completely entertained by the people that show up. Every stereotype imaginable is there and more! I know, I know I am a part of the freak show. I can’t be missed since I stand out so.  And that is a small part of the fun. Anyway I’m getting off track here.

 One of the things I keep getting offended with is how people keep telling me how gifted I am in promoting and Booking. I can’t tell you how many times I am told how that is my biggest talent. I think to myself, I have more to offer than that! I have other talents! This booking and promoting thing was developed out of necessity. There’s no talent in that, anyone can do it! SO, why am I so insulted by being good at something that others are not so good at? And why am I so good at it? My whole life I have always been told how talented I am in art, as a vocalist etc. I have always been very creative. It’s kind of a family trait, talented vocalists, artistically creative and inventive people. So I think the creative and inventive side of me has helped me to be “gifted” in the promoting and booking. Also most musicians don’t want to deal with the “business” side of music, and perhaps that is a part of the reason they compliment me so! LOL All joking aside, it is very important!

The next post will air soon and in this series we will be looking into some great resource’s both online and in print! So stay tuned!

Peace…..

Jeff Dale and the South Woodlawners Cd Review

Jeff Dale and the South Woodlawners

Today we take a listen to Jeffs new CD Blues from the south side of my soul.

1. Blues From The South Side Of My Soul  4★★★★
2. Alabama Lovin  6★★★★★★ Fun tune

3. Love My Baby Blind 4★★★★
4. My Way Or The Highway  4★★★★
5. You Don’t Know Nothin’ About Chicago 4★★★★
6. Grown Ass Man  4★★★★
7. I’d Hit It  4★★★★
8. Nothin’ But The Blues  4★★★★
9. Big Gas Station   6★★★★★★
10. Highway One   6★★★★★★

11. Third Rail I give it a 2★★ but if you get rid of the drum machine Id give it 4

Average (mean)	4.363636364
Median	4
Standard Deviation	1.21
Album Score:	7.16★

"The album is nice and enjoyable, I can’t wait to hear what comes next and to get out and see these guys perform! The group has that classic Chicago sound and occasionally mixes in a few surprises hear and there!" Big Wayne  www.LiveBluesTonight.com

Well I guess you got to get out and experience the blues to be able to feel the blues! Jeff has come back to the Blues after a 20 year sabbatical. Its good to have you back on the blues side of town!
Jeff is a windy city transplant to Southern California. Jeff was raised in the coffers of the Blues, Chicago where so many Blues legends got their soul. Dale and the band have that classic Chicago Blues Style sound with some surprising twists.The album is nice and enjoyable! My favorite tunes on this album are "Alabama Lovin", "Highway one" and "Big Gas Station" (nice Play on words). My only real complaint is the ridged tempo from the Drum Machine that distracts the rhythm of the tasty Slide guitar work by Jeff. I can’t wait to hear what comes next and to get out and see these guys perform!

 The band consists of Dale on dirty gritty vocals and guitar while sharing lead guitar between additional guitarists. Along with the essential core of the groove (bass and drums), to complete the seven member band is a little piano, harmonica, occasional Saxophone and Bassoon. Yes I said Bassoon ! The sound gives kind of a lurking and mischievous feel, and it works well.


www.jeffdaleblues.com

Interview with Mick Martin

Introduction

MICK MARTIN

Mick Martin has played blues harmonica professionally since 1968 and, since 1983, led "Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers." On March 31, 1994, Mick did something highly unusual for a harmonica player: he performed at Carnegie Hall for the nationally-broadcast "Blues in Jazz" concert with mentor Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Witherspoon, Grover Washington Jr., Carrie Smith and Mark Whitfield. That same year, he was featured on Jimmy Smith's Fantasy/Milestone Records release, Sum Serious Blues. Mick has played harmonica on stage behind Freddie King, Jimmy Rogers, Bo Diddley, Mick Taylor, the Yardbirds, Roy Brown and many others. He is a featured artist on Dig Music's Bob Dylan tribute, "Positively 12th & K," which also features Sal Valentino and Jackie Greene.

Mick shared the “Best West Coast Blues Harmonica Player” nod with Mark Hummel in 2001. Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers have won the Sacramento Area Music Award (a.k.a. the SAMMIES) for “Best Blues Band” three times, thus entitling them to a place in the SAMMIES Hall of Fame.

Mick has been producing and hosting the Blues for over 20 years, beginning with "The KZAP Blues Show" in August of 1989. He joined the staff of KXJZ in July 1991 to create "Mick Martin's Blues Party."

Information taken from the Bands website

B.W.

Welcome to my show, well Blog. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. I am glad to return the favor you did for us. You host a show on the radio called Mick Martin’s Blues Party and you aired my former bands first CD on that show back in 2005. I remember taking my boom box with me to work and threatening the whole job site to be quiet when you first aired my band on your show. Its funny how just hearing yourself for the first time on the radio is so special. Even though you’ve already performed the tune live so many times you don’t even like it anymore! It was really cool too because friends all over the state called me to say they just heard my band on the radio. We first met briefly at a gig in Lodi California where we performed at an event together. Since then we have met a few other times. You were very nice and even remembered my name which blew me away! I think we were at Blues on the river in 2006. We were on the side stage watching Shane Dwight. You looked over at me and said, “We gonna act like we don’t know each other?” I said ah...well, I know who you are but you might have me confused with someone else. You said I know who you are! I said I really doubt it, I am nobody! You laughed and said, “You’re Big Wayne and you play trumpet with Highway 61 Blues Band!”

We only performed together two or three times and very briefly met! That was so cool! A photographer happened to be there and he took a shot of us talking and then you went on to perform. A great show I might add!

B.W.

So Mick, how did it all begin? What made you choose and want to learn to play Harmonica?

M.M.

I was in a band in my teens and one of the guitar players brought in a harmonica. I think he had learned “Little Child” by the Beatles. For some reason that made me angry – that he could play two instruments and I couldn’t play any. So I bought a harp and learned the solo on “You’re Gonna Miss Me” by the 13^th Floor Elevators. Then I heard “Little Red Rooster” by the Rolling Stones and fell in love with the blues. I looked on the LP to find  the songwriter’s name and saw “Willie Dixon.” So I went out looking for more albums with songs by him. I found “The Best of Muddy Waters,” “Howlin’ Wolf (also known as the “Rockin’ Chair” album) and “More Real Folk Blues” by Sonny Boy Williamson. Once I heard Sonny Boy, I knew I had to learn to play the harmonica right, but I wasn’t able to get that beautiful tone and almost gave up.

B.W.

What encouraged you to continue on to become proficient on Harmonica.

M.M.

When the first “Paul Butterfield Blues Band” LP came out, I knew “white boys could play the blues.” Before Butterfield’s record, and shortly after, Charlie Musselwhite’s “Stand Back” LP, all I heard were the British guys, who didn’t quite get the playing right. Brian Jones (of the Rolling Stones), Keith Relf (of the Yardbirds) and Ray Davies (the Kinks) sounded sloppy compared with Sonny Boy, the Wolf and the guy I heard on the Muddy Waters album (who turned out to be Little Walter Jacobs, of course). Paul Jones (Manfred Mann) was the closest thing to a real harp player of the “Caucasian persuasion” I had heard up to the point of discovering Butterfield , Musselwhite, Rod Piazza (with the Dirty Blues Band at the time) and Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson of Canned Heat. Once I heard them, I knew I had to knuckle down and do it right. I was 16 and, by the time I was nearly 50, I finally was able to play what I heard in my head.

B.W.

Was your family or anyone in your family musically talented?

M.M. 
My mom and dad used to sing at piano bars. For my 12^th birthday, I asked to join them for one night and was allowed to play maracas with an organist named Clyde Derby. I was a Jimmy Smith fanatic, so I was in heaven, even though Derby was pretty much an “easy listening” artist. So my folks sang, especially my mother. My cousin, Steve Peterson (the son of my father’s sister), is a singer, songwriter and pianist who has toured the country and made recordings, but it wasn’t until our generation that anyone in my family went on stage or into the studio.

B.W.

What were the early years like when you were starting out onto the local music scene?

M.M.

At first, we played teen centers; places set up by churches in the Sacramento area where bands could play and teens could hang out under supervised conditions. Of course, we played high school dances when we could get them. Then the “Summer of Love” hit and we had a place in Sacramento called the Sound Factory, our own local version of the Fillmore Auditorium and the Avalon Ballroom. I did anything they needed: swept up, took tickets, ran errands for the artists (most memorably for Muddy Waters and James Cotton), whatever they needed. That was where I played my first professional gig in 1968 as a last-minute addition to a band from Davis called Wake Forest. I walked in during their rehearsal – I was there as often as possible during the week as well as weekends-- and the manager, Whitey Davis said, “Go get your harmonicas. This band needs a lead singer.” So, after that one rehearsal, we opened up for Pink Floyd that weekend. Our name isn’t on the poster, but we were there in front of a packed house. I can still see the lights over the tops of the heads of the members of the audience as I sang and played Sonny Boy’s “Help Me.”After the band broke up, Whitey set up an after-the-sets jam session as, believe it or not, a favor to me, and one night I jammed with the Peter Green version of Fleetwood Mac. Whitey had me form another band called The Mick (he named it, not me) and we opened up for Savoy Brown, the Son of Champlin, the Family Tree from Stockton and other Bay area bands you probably wouldn’t know. It was a great time in my life. When the Sound Factory closed – the last show was us with Savoy Brown – I kept playing. With my best-known bands of the period, Timothygrass and Joshua, we played many free concerts in William Land Park and Carmichael Park, Freeborn Hall at UC Davis and anywhere we could get a booking – usually playing for free. We mixed blues with originals, just as Mick Martin & the Blues Rockers do today.

B.W.

How has the Local Blues scene changed through the years?

M.M. 
When we were old enough to play bars, I found myself in a cover band, which I found profoundly unsatisfying. So I found some kindred spirits and we evolved into Smith, Martin & Shaw, which had a local “hit” with Jim Shaw’s bluesy “Oh, the Road.” When the band split in two directions, I ended up in Mick Martin & the Orion Express, which also had FM success with “Hey Mama.” We later released two LPs, “Orion Express” (1974) and “Prisoner of the Sky” (1979). As long as it was original music, I felt comfortable playing rock, but I never truly strayed from the blues at nightclubs like the Shire Road Pub, the Oasis Ballroom/Crabshaw Corners, Slick Willy’s, C Street North and others. When the original Shire Road Pub burned down in 1977, I gave up music – for two years. I kept stopping and starting over. Disco has brought the original music scene to a dead halt in the ‘80s and then the blues came back full force because of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Phil Givant’s Sacramento Blues Festival , which I was fortunate to play from 1983 to 1993 with Mick Martin and the All Stars. The All-Stars turned into the Blues Rockers in 1984, and started off pretty much with members of Smith, Martin & Shaw. Before the Torch Club became the dominant downtown blues club in Sacramento, the best blues bands played at Sam’s Hof Brau. It was there that Johnny Heartsman reigned supreme as the godfather of Sacramento blues. If you could get into Sam’s, you’d made it. We finally got in after being rejected over and over again. Then they got a new manager, Bob McCook, and we had to prove ourselves all over again …  In Folsom, the Sutter Street Saloon emerged and a kind phone call from Norton Buffalo to owner Kirby Jones got us into the  mix that included Elvin Bishop, Cold Blood, Charlie Musselwhite, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, the Fabulous Flames and other top bands.

B.W.

What challenges did you encounter or still encounter?

M.M. 
The recent economic crisis has had a negative impact on the music business, but it seems to be recovering. If it weren’t for help from drummer Bruce Pressley and guitarist Obie Dee, I would probably have give up booking and promoting the band. It is the hardest part of keeping your music out there, since few musicians really want to deal with that kind of thing and the so-called leader ends up with the responsibility.. After 18-plus CDs, three European tours and, most recently, playing Woodstock’s 40^th Anniversary West Fest as part of Harvey Mandel’s SnakeCrew, I still find that something comes along to inspire me to stay in the game get back on the phone to book gigs. When people ask us how much we charge per hour, I always laugh, telling them the music is free; it’s the loading and unloading of equipment, setting up and driving to the gigs that they’re really paying us for.

B.W.

Mick, you have played harmonica on stage behind Freddie King, Jimmy Rogers, Bo Diddley, Mick Taylor, the Yardbirds, Roy Brown to name a few. At the time did it feel like you were making a part of music history. Did it feel special at the time?

M.M.

No, not really. It was just an incredible honor. I remember being so blessed out having backed Bo Diddley at the Sacramento Blues Festival in 1991 that I left without getting paid. (I wondered why Bo and the band looked at me so funny when I shook their hands and floated out of the concert grounds) Before I heard of having a “bucket list,” I made up a list of people I would love to play with and set out to do that. I didn’t think of it as making history, just as realizing a dream. It started when my ultimate musical hero, Jimmy Smith, moved to Sacramento in the ‘80s. This was a miracle to me. The next thing I knew I was playing harmonica with him locally, then recording a CD (“Sum Serious Blues”) with him for Fantasy Records in Los Angeles and, finally, on stage at Carnegie Hall doing the harp part on “Hobo Flats” with this amazing orchestra. This emboldened me to actively pursue sitting in with my heroes. Being in Harvey Mandel’s band is a mind-blower, as his music has always been among my favorites, In addition to being on Musselwhite’s “Stand Back” (recently selected as one of the top 100 blues albums of all time), John Mayall’s “USA Union” and “Back to the Roots,”  Canned Heat’s “Future Blues” and The Rolling Stones’ “Black and Blue,” he has made a number of classic albums as a leader, beginning with those great LPs he did for Phillips/Mercury Records. I’m truly honored to be on his latest CD, “Harvey Mandel & the SnakeCrew Live” with an amazing all-star group.

B.W.

You were honored to perform on stage at Carnegie Hall for the nationally-broadcast "Blues in Jazz" concert, a rare thing for anyone, yet alone a blues harmonica player! How was the experience?

M.M.

It was breathtaking. To do that lonesome-sounding harp part at the beginning of “Hobo Flats,” then have the orchestra pick up the theme sent chills up my spine. I truly felt I had arrived, and it made up for all the concerts and festivals I might have played if I hadn’t chosen to stay home and be there for my daughter, Francesca. I kept getting in trouble, though, with the conductor, trumpet player Jon Faddis, because I kept turning around to watch Jimmy Smith play. I wanted to enjoy the show just like the audience. Playing with great musicians brings out the best in anybody, so it was deeply satisfying. Afterward, a group of us went out for drinks and jazz drummer/singer Grady Tate, another hero of mine, kept staring at me. I started to get uncomfortable after awhile, then he said “Mick Martin, you’re the party starter, man!” Coming from him, it was the highest compliment I’ve ever received..

B.W.

You were on stage with some great Musicians, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Witherspoon, Grover Washington Jr., Carrie Smith and Mark Whitfield. I could ask a lot of questions about all these cats but got to ask about Jimmy Smith. He is one of my favorite Keyboardists of all time! He really played from his heart. You say in your Bio that Jimmy Smith was one of your mentors. Can you tell us more about how he influenced you and your relationship with him?

M.M.

He was like a father to me, sometimes stern but always encouraging. The first time we met at the Palms Playhouse in Davis, I gave him a hug. This shocked his band members, but I LOVED this man. He brought music alive for me with “Walk on the Wild Side,” “The Cat,” “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf,” “Back at the Chicken Shack,” “Midnight Special,” “Bucket,” “I’m Movin’ On” and so many great recordings.He had that “thing,” you know? He could create such intense power then break into a groove. I still listen to him with awe. Plus,  I learned more from him in one night than I had in the in the 20-plus years of playin I’d done before he allowed me to come up on stage. The first time, I thought, “Well, I did it; I played with my number-one hero.” When he called me up a second time, I really felt I’d “made it.” Playing with him in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York made me feel like I was a member of a very special fraternity.

B.W. 

 I asked some of my readers to participate with questions to ask you:

Akarsha Kumar: Harmonica Player with Tip Of the Top Blues Band asks:

I'd be interested in any advice you have for younger blues harp players today.

M.M.

Keep playing – and learning. I’m always trying to stretch. Sitting in with Café R&B was a pretty bold move for me, since their tight, inventive arrangements don’t really leave room for harmonica, but I found a niche and it turned out to be a great experience. My young protégé (if I may call him that), Kyle Rowland, is an example of a humble but serious player who learns from everyone he plays with or hears. He’s always copping a lick here or a groove there. When I produced and arranged his new CD, “Messin’ With the Kid,” I wanted to make something he could still listen to without wincing when he was 30. I think I accomplished that, BUT the amazing thing is how much better a harmonica player he is now in the short time since we cut those songs. Recently, he sat in with James Cotton and Hubert Sumlin on “Got My Mojo Working,” and played a near-perfect 24-bar solo. It was really something to see and hear. Afterward, Kyle was kind enough to take me backstage and Hubert kept patting my leg or shoulder and saying, “Thank you for what you’ve done for us with this young man. He’s going to keep our music alive.” Does it get any better than that?

Aloha Henry from Hawaii Asks:

What are the difficulties involved with playing Dates/Gigs in Hawaii?

M.M.

The cost of airplane tickets and housing are major concerns. I have friends over there, guitarist Colin John in particular. So does Bruce Pressley. It’s just the logistics and getting paid enough to not take a loss on the trip. The Blues Rockers always just barely scraped by when we went to England, Italy and Belgium. That said, I’d play in Hawaii in a heartbeat.

Larry Underhill with the Semper Fi band asks :  

How old were you when you started playing harp? and  What variety of harp do you most like to play?

M.M.

1. I was a junior in high school, so I was about 15. 2. I used the $2 Old Standby Hohner harmonica for songs in G and spent the extra buck on Marine Bands for everything else because they were the only harmonicas I ever saw! 

I have an interview with Darrell Mansfield coming up so I asked him if he had a question for you:

What is the most or ''one'' the most embarrassing things you've done or said on stage?

M.M.
It was during my experience with playing at Carnegie Hall that I had my most embarrassing moments. First off, during the first two rehearsals, I became used to playing a certain length of time on “Hobo Flats.” So, during the third and final rehearsal, I stopped at the same point but the orchestra kept playing. Conductor Jon Faddis turned to me and said, “You don’t stop until I tell you to stop.” That was a big “oops.” Then, more recently, I discovered why jazz musicians were always giving me weird looks. In blues, you play two times through and then stop unless encouraged by the band leader to do a third time around. In jazz, it’s always three times around. So when I’d do two times or four times when playing with Jimmy, he always would give me a funny look and I didn’t know why. One night, I went four times and he got a look on his face that seemed to imply, “Oh, so you think you’re hot stuff.” So he kept pushing me until I played eight progressions. My face was color purple, but I made it through and the audience went wild. And, oddly enough, that was the night I learned more about playing than I ever had before. I had to top myself with each new progression. Fortunately, Jimmy was a master accompanist and would change the groove every 12 bars, so it was like having a rocket strapped to my back and crashing through 20 floors of a skyscraper. However, the absolute worst thing I ever did was when I became comfortable with just bringing my Bb harp to Carnegie to play on “Hobo Flats.” I was so dumb. On the big night, after every song on the program was played, they had a grand finale. When Jon Faddis called me out, he had to say me name twice I was so stunned. I had left my harp case back at the hotel, so I had only one harmonica. I was terrified. They went into the song and I played quietly to myself and, sure enough, it was the wrong key for cross harp. Grover Washington Jr. was finishing his solo and Faddis was eyeing me. I knew I was next. I tried one last thing and played first position, also quietly to myself. Rick Estrin had been giving me some tips on how to play Jimmy Reed style, so the first time I EVER played first position in front of an audience was at Carnegie Hall. The band members actually laughed when they heard me “tweet tweet” in the upper register, but somehow I made it through – twice. The audience gave me a big round of applause and that’s when I realized the orchestra was still playing, building a third backing progression. So I hurriedly got back on the mic. It sounds terribly amateurish to me when I listen to the “Jazz in Blues” recording of the whole show (the encore was omitted from the broadcast, fortunately), but that was the part Grady Tate liked best. So, as all musicians know, it’s your worst nights when people seem to like you or your band the best. You know, when someone says, “I felt I had nothing to live for and hen I heard your band.” That said, I can still feel that ice-cold feeling in the pit of my stomach that came as part of “my” not-so-grand finale.

B.W.

Do you have any ideas or suggestions that would help bands to promote themselves?

M.M.

Just keep at it. Use everything you can think of and look at what the more successful bands are doing. Try EVERYTHING!

B.W.

Do you have any suggestions or requests for my website www.LiveBluesTonight.com that would help bands signed and un-signed in regards to tools and resources we could provide that would help bands and venues.

M.M.

Just its existence is a help. I appreciate the exposure you’re giving me. We’re all in the same boat, so let’s try to row together. The blues is a calling, and we owe so much to the originators. Muddy Waters never said a bad word about any other artist, so I take my attitude from him. In other words, just keep doing what you’re doing!

B.W.

I know your Radio show has helped my former band (Highway 61 Blues Band) and your show has attributed to countless bands and performing artists. On the behalf of all of us Thank You for all you do and especially for letting the world know about some local small bands tiptoeing on the threshold of greatness.

M.M.

It’s my honor to be able to play music on the radio. I am one of the fortunate few disc jockeys who can play whomever and whatever they want, so I take that gift seriously. My goal is to support other blues musicians and to give listeners a quality, no-repeat show every Saturday.

B.W.

Again thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions.

Peace….

Big Wayne

Locals to the central valley of California can catch Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers this weekend at

Lozano’s Pacific Avenue Grill

11/14/2009 8:00 to 11:30 PM

6124 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, California

call 209-474-8474 

Visit Mick on myspace...

http://www.mickmartinblues.com

Listen to Mick Martin's Blues Party

Saturdays 1-5pm for Great!

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