This week on The Blues, Saturday night at 11 o'clock, May 30th, you'll hear lots and lots of talented local musicians. You'll also hear songs from a couple of new cds recently received from Alligator and Blind Pig Records. And finally, the show will end with a personal favorite by the late great tenor saxophonist Jimmy McGary.
The first set begins with a song from the new Blind Pig release, Boom Town, by Victor Wainwright & the Wildroots. He was born in Savannah, went to college in Daytona Beach, and ended up in Memphis's blues scene. In fact, the band is having their cd release party on Saturday, May 30th at the News-Journal Center at Daytona State College in Daytona Beach.
There's also music in the first set by the Sonny Moorman Group, Louisiana's Sonny Landreth, and Lonnie Mack who's living in Nashville now. Sonny's got a busy performing schedule including a show at McCauley's Pub, Monday night, June 1st.
A song from the new cd called "Meet Me in Bluesland" on Alligator Records by the Kentucky Headhunterswith Johnnie Johnsonstarts off the second set of The Blues. Rock 'n roll pianist Johnnie Johnson was best known for his work with Chuck Berry. He recorded this album with the Kentucky Headhunters in 2003, but passed away in 2005 before its release. We're glad it's finally being released. Great sound.
The rest of the songs in the second set are boogie woogie ones with local favorites, Big Joe Duskin, Ricky Nye, and H-Bomb Ferguson. Big Joe and H-Bomb are no longer with us, by Ricky Nye is still a dynamic performer. He'll be opening for Nikki Hill at the Southgate House Revival on Friday night, June 5th.
Four more local groups are featured in the 3rd set of The Blues: Brad Hatfield, the Blues Merchants with vocalist Amy McFarland, Billy Rose & BlueSoul, and the Goshorn Brothers. Billy Rose's song,"Moochie Moochie Moo," is from the 2-cd set released by Play It Forward.
And the final song of this week's edition of The Blues is from Jimmy McGary. His version of "See See Rider" was performed in WVXU's audience studio on the campus of Xavier University on September 27th, 1988. Ed Moss was on piano. The album...Palindrome...long out-of-print.