Category Archives: Leilani Kilgore

Saturday Blues at Hennesseys & SpeakEasy

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For those that don’t know, the Gaslamp SpeakEasy is owned by Hennessey’s Tavern right next door, and both venues have live music.  The last Saturday of every month, talented kids under 21 play blues at Hennessey’s from 2-5pm.

Here is a video of Leilani Kilgore (youth blues ambassador for BLUSD – our San Diego blues society) performing that great Jimi Hendrix cover song Red House, along with Malachi Johnson on bass (who usually plays drums) and Orion Lewis on drums.

Later that night I caught Stoney B Blues band on the SpeakEasy side.  Stoney is singing a BB King cover song, Why I Sing the Blues, with his band members, Bob Prater on bass, Pat Kelley on keyboard and Paul Carlomango on drums.  It is always dark in the SpeakEasy, but the video is pretty good considering the lighting.

San Diego Blues

Talented Kids Show Up at Youth Blues Jam

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Once again some incredible talented young people (up to 21 years old) showed up and played together last Saturday afternoon at the monthly BLUSD Youth Blues Jam at the Gaslamp Speakeasy.

The host musicians are Leilani Kilgore (guitar – playing over her head in this video), Tyler Ray Davidson (guitar) and Malachi Johnson (on drums).  Joining them in this video is Victor franklin, who is playing the bass guitar.

In this video, Aidan Mooney, who is only 9 years old, plays the guitar with the older teens hosting the jam – and holds his own!!

San Diego Blues

Leilani Joins in SpeakEasy Jam

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Leilani Kilgore led the jam at the SpeakEasy last night with this Etta James cover song I’d Rather Go Blind. She’s just 17, but she has been out at the jams lately playing with local veteran musicians, and she holds her own.  With her on bass is Irakli Aladash, Bruce Hutcherson on drums, TC Tye on keyboard and Justin Fools playing the harmonica.

This video is long and a little too grainy particularly towards the end, but I wanted to capture the whole song.

There was a full house of musicians who came in to jam, but I wasn’t feeling so well and headed out early and missed the rest of it.  But I’ll be back next week.  This is becoming the place to go Monday nights for blues downtown, and it seems to just get better and better.

 

Teens Sound Like Seasoned Players at Youth Blues Jam

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I always enjoy coming out to hear the kids who show up at the monthly Youth Blues Jam at the SpeakEasy, which is open to people under 22 years old.  But they don’t sound like kids.  These teens are really good musicians, and they have embraced the blues.  The 3 guitarists, who often play together, will switch roles between the lead, rhythm and bass guitars, as they did today.

This first video has Leilani Kilgore (who just turned 17) playing guitar and singing, while Chase Walker (who is 15 and has his own band) played guitar, Tyler Ray Davidson (18) was on bass and Nate Hess (14) was on drums.

Next, check out Tyler Ray when he takes over the lead and Leilani switches to the bass guitar.  I still find it hard to believe these are teens.

They welcome any one who fits the age limit and wants to play with them on the first Saturday of the month (this month was an exception) from 2-5pm at the SpeakEasy.

House of Blues Jam – Youth Band Takes the Night

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A group of teenagers, who have their own bands, joined together and rocked the house for almost 40 minutes last night, and they can really play the blues.

On guitar are Leilani Kilgore and Tyler Ray Davidson (who is singing), on bass is Randon Davitt, and on drums Matt Fyke.  These kids also come and jam at the SpeakEasy the first Saturday of the month in the afternoon – although in December they will be playing on the 14th.  I will keep you posted with the calendar updates.