February 2010, Lust for Blues III

Is an opportunity for us to get out of the house on a Sunday afternoon in the end days of winter to celebrate the joyful noise that is the blues. Music that is a rhythmic soundtrack to life. Some cosmic grease to help release the listener from whatever drudgery or worry that holds us captive in darker times (sorry, my blues get a little moody now and then), OR it might just be the key to keeping our eyes smiling, our bodies swaying and our minds at ease. What ever the reason, need or want it will make you feel good, and you won’t be alone. As Luther Allison always said, “If you don’t like the blues, you got a hole in your soul!”

Sunday, March 21st at The Metropolis Resort & Hotel in Eau Claire (at the southwest corner of the intersection of I-94 & Hwy 93), in a room overlooking the Chaos Water Park, we will present, for your enjoyment, three bands. Doors open at 1 p.m. There will be a cash bar and food specials available. Music begins at 2 p.m. with,

Lucas K And The Coolhand Saints, a talented four piece group specializing in creating good times. Mixing up a stew of blues, funk, rock and reggae with a little jazz to spice it up, they’ll surprise you with their spin on some old tunes and light you up with their originals. Led by Luke Fischer on guitar and vocals as well as an understated presence, his original tunes are influenced by such diverse artists as Tom Waits and Marvin Gaye. Olaf Lind makes a fiddle and mandolin talk like nothing you ever heard before, an experience you need to have in your life. Brian Trullinger slaps a bass line that’ll make you sway and move your hips, while Ben Eggers keeps it cookin’ and tickin’ like a Timex. The Saints will play long enough to make you yell for more, but then they’re gonna serve you up.

22 Oz. Porterhouse. For years these guys fronted one of the most popular bands in western Wisconsin…Sparky And The Wipers! It’s Sparky himself, Paul Hintz and guitar slinger extraordinaire Mike Schlenker. These guys can rock and have been known to blow the roof off a juke joint or two. Today they are gonna serve it up to us unplugged, alone and acoustic, like you’ve never seen them. I can’t wait to catch this set! Hot licks and cool blues on acoustic guitars is gonna be like prime cut beef searing on a charcoal grill. WOW! Makes my mouth water – can’t wait!! As soon as you’re trying to catch your breath from that super second course we’ll really start cookin’ with gas.

The Butanes! Long a commanding presence on the Minneapolis blues/R&B scene, the Butanes began receiving numerous individual and group awards in the late 80’s. The early 90’s found the band holding down two house gigs that have since become a cherished part of local lore: the 10 strong Butanes Soul Revue brought southern soul to the Cabooze bar every Wednesday and the trio delivered Chicago blues to the 400 bar every Thursday. As the accolades piled up, local appearances became less frequent. The band could often be found playing behind luminaries around the world leading one New Orleans wag to dub them “the best band you’ve never heard of.”

Earl King hired the Butanes to back him at a dozen New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival appearances as well as numerous Midwest festival and Club dates. The band accompanied Earl on a seven country tour of Europe and recorded with him at the London BBC studios, performed at the Vin Expo in Bordeaux, France and played on his final unreleased Black Top tracks.

They toured the Midwest, California, Alaska and the Virgin Islands with Zydeco accordionist Al Rapone, backed numerous New Orleans legends at the 1st Ernie K-Doe R&B Tribute at the Mother-In-Law Lounge in New Orleans and were "saved" during rehearsal for the St. Louis Blues & Heritage Festival by Motown/Stax/Raelettes vocalist the Reverend Dr. Mabel John.

Their most recent collaborations with former Goldwax/Checker vocalist Willie Walker, Memphisapolis and Right Where I Belong, have both been ranked as number 1 "picks to click" on XM Radios' Bluesville station. Willie and the Butanes traveled to Utrecht, the Netherlands to perform at the final Blues Estaffette. They spent 10 days playing at the Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland and headlined the first P-vine Blues Festival in Tokyo.

Partial list of STARS the Butanes have backed: Long John Baldry, Johnny “Clyde” Copeland, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, Ben E. King, Earl King, Mable John, The Memphis Horns, Pinetop Perkins, Francine Reed, Fenton Robinson, Percy Sledge, Big Walter Smith, Hubert Sumlin, Little Johnny Taylor, just to name a few.

This is going to be the best Lust For Blues yet, and that’s saying a bunch! The Chippewa Valley Blues Society is looking forward to seeing you there. Keep an eye out for Blue Notes in future issues of the Pub & Grub Report.

Don’t forget the other events we are involved in:

Tuesday Night Blues on the River at Owen Park in Eau Claire every Tuesday from Memorial Day to Labor Day with free music and camaraderie starting at 6:30 p.m. at the band shell.

Blues On The Chippewa in Durand the first weekend in August. Two whole days of free music and good community at the Memorial Park Band Shell.

We are always looking for new members, to find out more about The Chippewa Valley Blues Society check out our website at cvblues.com