At the end of the JammingOut at HOB jam Wednesday night, Fuzzy Rankins showed up and played with Lafayette Falkquay, both of them incredible lead guitarists. Here they are having a fun time with Fuzzy singing Stop Following Me Around. On stage with them are Billy Wear on drums, Kevin Cooper on bass and Justin Fools on harp. It was a great way to end the night.
San Diego Blues
We celebrated Victor Franklin’s 60th birthday at the JammingOut at HOB blues jam, and many of his friends showed up to play with him. Unfortunately most of the video I took didn’t turn out so well, but this one of his good friend Theo Bellow on accordion turned out pretty well.
Theo is singing and playing Big Chief, with Victor on bass, CJ Hutchins on guitar and Ric Lee on drums.
San Diego Blues
We’ve got blues every day this coming week, even Sunday, which is a treat. For those of you who go to the weekly blues jam at the House of Blues (JammingOut at HOB), be aware that it will be held Thursday this week (not Wednesday).
Saturday afternoon at Tio Leo’s will be the final round of the San Diego blues competition for duo performers, where the finalist (from the 4 who have been selected out of the first 2 rounds) will represent us in the International Blues Competition (IBC) in Memphis next January. Missy & Heine Andersen, John Frazer, Ben Powell, and Andres Acuna with Eddie Sadler are in the final four.
This Wednesday night jam at the House of Blues, Robin Henkel (winner of this year’s San Diego Music Awards for best blues in San Diego) came to the jam with Mama Tokus (visiting San Diego once again from southwest England).
They have been performing together all around town during her visit, and here is a delightful song called Too Much Butt by Saffire, the Uppity Blues Women. On stage with them is drummer Ric Lee.
We also heard Jacinto Casteneda singing that great cover song Got My Mojo Working and playing guitars along with a newcomer to town Jo Hell. They were joined by Harmonica John Frazer, Reggie Ford on drums and Sam on bass.
San Diego Blues
I’ve been hearing about the Little Kings, but hadn’t heard them until this week. They were the featured band of the month (last Wednesdays of the month) at JammingOut at HOB. And they were great! They play again tonight downtown at the SpeakEasy.
Here are some videos of them: The first one is a Magic Sam cover song, You Belong to Me, sung by David Mosby with his band.
This second video is also of a Magic Sam cover tune, Look What You’ve Done to Me.
And third is an Ike Turner cover called Rocket 88.
The night wasn’t complete without jammers, and here we have Nicolas Butterfield performing a Bill Withers cover Use Me Up, which he does so well. On stage with Nick was guitarist Dave Keefer, Justin Fools on harmonica, Samuel on bass and Reggie Ford on drums.
San Diego Blues
JammingOut at HOB had a full house and one good set after another Wednesday night. It was a great night.
Returning for a third time to the jam was Willie Simmons, who got up to perform a song I’ll call Good Woman (not sure what the song is really called), and rocked the house. He was on stage with Jacinto Castaneda and Rich Giglio on guitars, Matt Casey on drums, Earl Pratt on bass and two sax players I don’t know.
In the next set, Kammie Thomas sang BB King’s cover song Thrill is Gone, with Jacinto Casteneda and Fuzzy Rankins on guitars, Kevin Cooper on bass, Reggie Ford on drums.
The night ended with Fuzzy Rankins and Lafayette Falkquay singing and playing guitars together, along with Kevin Cooper on bass, Timothy on drums, and the two sax players whose names I didn’t catch
San Diego Blues
I’ve said it before, but you really never know who will show up at a jam and amaze you. An unknown, but local blues singer from Atlanta, showed up at the JammingOut at HOB last night, and he gave us a great performance of a song I think is called Break It Down.
Check out this delightful song with Willie Simmons singing, David Lewis is on harmonica, Nicholas Butterfield and Doyle Thomas are on guitars – and Lafayette Falkquay too in back, Harry on bass, and Rio Rhythm on drums.
San Diego Blues
Every jam has its own familiar faces and this week we had a good mix of regular JammingOut musicians who were back to jam together and have a good time. As one of the JammingOut hosts, Rosa Lea Schiavone, recently said, “everyone leaves their ego at the door” and its so true. It’s a great group of people and a lot of fun, and the jam runs from 7-11pm every Wednesday night.
In this video another one of our hosts and a guitar player, Doyle Thomas, got on stage and sang the cover song One Way Out. Playing with him are David Damaso and Mike (standing in back and not sure of his last name) on guitars, David Lewis on harmonica, Matt Casey on drums, Dino on trumpet and I didn’t catch who was playing the bass.
At the end of the night and last song, we were entertained by Kevin Cooper on bass, singing Mustang Sally – who was joined by Tony Peterson who amped it up even more, along with Lafayette and Mike on guitars, Dino on trumpet, and I can’t remember who the drummer is. Lots of fun for everyone!
San Diego Blues
As readers of this blog know by now, I’m a regular at the JammingOut at HOB (House of Blues Voodoo Stage in the Gaslamp) on Wednesday nights.
Last night Carrie Shannon, who I’ve never heard before, got up and sang a sassy ZZ Top cover song, Tush. On stage with her was Nicholas Butterfield and Junya Isogawa on guitars, Kevin Cooper on bass, David Lewis on harmonica and Edward Cleveland on drums.
Later Will Lovalot performed that great Freddie King song Big Legged Woman, along with David Damaso (and then Lafayette Falkquay) on guitars, Harmonica John (Frazer), Dino on trumpet, Kevin Cooper on bass and Michael Minor on drums.
San Diego Blues
Many of the regular musicians were at the JammingOut at HOB last night, including Nick Butterfield and Rich Giglio – on guitars together (once again) and performing “English Invasion” songs. As Rich explained to me, from British bands in the 60s and 70s who brought their blues rock to America, which they both enjoy.
Here they are playing a Cream cover song Crossroads, with Nick singing. The vocal mic didn’t pick up as well as it usually does – not sure why. They are on stage with David Falkquay on bass, Duke Ventra on drums and Dave Lewis on harmonica.
