For those of you reading this from someplace other than Scotland, Dundee is a nice little city on the coast, about an hour south of Aberdeen. Here are some Pictures of the town of Dundee from the Blues Bonanza webmaster's photo library:
The look up Reform Street:
Dundee City Square:
It really is a nice place. Easy drive too.
The festival was the same weekend as the G8 summit, and everyone was expecting the roads to be bad because of the protesters. The organizers were also worried that the attendance might be down for the same reason. Well, there may have been a large number of people marching, but there were also a large number of people out supporting live music as well.
So, here's what happened!
Friday night I was scheduled to play at the Marquee with my new band (Les Taylor on drums and Mike Oxley on bass). Got there around 3pm to have a sound check and met Bob Telford (the organizer), his wife Henny (hope that's spelled right) and Ivers from Bob's band Wolftrain who was running sound that night. Also on the bill was Bottleneck John from Sweden and Tam White- a well know Scottish blues singer an actor (he was in Braveheart). All great people. Also on the bill was Bob Hall, an incredible blues piano player who was part of Savoy Brown and some of the other players like Peter Green. What an honor to be on the bill with these guys, even more so to be the last act of the night.
the club was supposed to be easy to find. "Look for the big yellow sign that says Marquee" were my instructions. We looked and looked and couldn't find it. Because they were repainting the sign. So after about 20-30 minutes of looking around there was finally enough on the sign that we understood what was going on.
The Marquee was a cool club, real long and wide with a nice high ceiling. Decorated in a retro, vintage disco vibe. Sound check was easy, the guys really knew their stuff. Les and I hung out listening to the other cat's do their thing and then it was our turn. Here's a photo Les took over the top of the drums of the magnatone lap steel in action:
And here's a picture of me and Bob Hall:
Meanwhile, my long-suffering wife was back poolside at the hotel, hanging out with our little kids. She wisely made arrangements at a hotel right downtown that doubles as a spa. It also turns out that it was walking distance to all the clubs, which was really convenient because we only have one car. Last thing I wanted was for the 3 of them to be stranded.
After sound check I went back and checked on my gang, had dinner in a great pub and wandered the city for a bit. Show started at 8pm, we were on at 11 so we had some time. I ended up there around 9 or so, my wife threw me out of the hotel room- I think the pacing was making her nervous. And there you go, I *hate* waiting to go on. It's not a nervous thing, it's an excitement thing. I just can't wait and so I get all worked up and start pacing and singing. Like watching a hig-jumoer rehearse a jump perhaps. No matter, it bugs her so off I went to the Marquee.
Instead of pacing at the club, I got to hang out on the front steps and talk to Bob Hall quite a bit. He's an interesting person. We talked about the chicago blues festival, a bunch about Muddy and Wolf. Mostly we talked about clothes. How odd is that- 2 musicians talking wardrobe. It's an odd thing for me to see players on stage in a T-shirt and jeans, I suspect it's cultural. Bob and I were both really dressed up, probably the only 2 (outside of my band).
Tam White was up in front of us. Great band with an unusual line-up: 2 guitars, a harp player and Tam singing. He's got a great voice, did some excellent songs and really worked the room up to a nice energy level. Then it was our turn.....
The guys in my new band now have a few gigs behind them and they rocked. We came out swinging with 'Killing Floor' and put a bunch of people on the dance floor. From there is was slide and shuffle time, a bunch of steel guitar and all kinds of carrying on. Typical loud and in your face Son Henry set. And the guys running sound were excellent, they really made us sound good.
When it was all over, the place had been well-rocked. Thanks to those that stayed late, and that went home with a copy of the CD! I didn't get home until late, talking to Bob Telford and the crew. And thanks Bob andd Henny for the T-shirt!
Here's a shot of the Marquee, with the band about to endd a tune:
Saturday I got a chance to play solo at the Balcony, great small club with an old wood floor. Great acoustics. And more bodies than I thought you could pack into a small space. Phew. It was hot in there but I really loved the energy. I'd do that again in a heartbeat.
Sunday I ended doing a double header. The band was at the Bank Bar, and I opened for Otis Grand in the Social. But first I had to make a speed run back to Aberdeen and drop off my wife and kids, and go back with my PA. So far I've been lucky that I didn't get any speeding tickets. Bank Bar gig was fun, tons of folks (thanks for being there) and lots of familiar faces that I saw several times over the weekend. The high-point of my day was stringing up the National and opening for Otis, though. The room was packed, and I mean packed, with bodies. Everyone was in a great mood and the site of a few rows of people in their 20's dancing and yelling along to some old country blues made me smile.
I think I've droned on enough. Thanks to all of you that made it such a great weekend. Come see us again!
Social, Sunday night:
Tam White in action (Les Taylor Photo)
Yours truly giving an impromptu demo of the lap steel at soundcheck (another Les Taylor Photo):
