Review: Memphis Lightning
November 7 @Gill Dawg, Port Richey

Darren “Lightnin’” Thiboutot, “Big Red” Thiboutot, and Stephen Jeremia, collectively known as Memphis Lightning, took a trip north to perform before an enthusiastic crowd at Gill Dawg in Port Richey.

As a part of the Blues on the Bayou series, Suncoast Blues Society (SBS) and GoTonight hosted this event. Performed under bright, sunny but a bit chilly skies the show was well attended. The cool, for Florida, weather did not impact the energy on stage nor in the appreciative crowd.

Memphis Lighting played two sets of high energy blues with the same competency that won them First Place in the SBS’s regional International Blues Challenge (IBC), and a sponsorship by your society in the 2022 IBC in the clubs along Beale Street in Memphis.

Playing mostly from their recent recording Borrowed Time the band showcased songs such as “Bullet Blues,” “6 String Slinger”, “A Blues for You”, and from their first release Trouble, “67 Cadillac” and “Let It Go”. The band performed the blues standard “Walking Blues” as an audience requested song.

Lightnin’ showed both why Jimmy Vaughan called him “one of the greatest guitar players around today,” and why the stage show is something to see. Always energetic and constantly on the move, Lightnin’ took advantage of the large “Wayne’s World Stage” at Gill Dawg and used every inch of the unique stage built inside of a sailboat turned on its side.

Lightnin’ also demonstrated that he is a musician. This show had Darren playing his guitars (on one he broke two strings at the same time!), on guitar and drums simultaneously, his dad “Big Red’s” bass, and finally a custom built Mainly Cigar Box Guitar. Darren showed us why the cigar box guitar community will shortly recognize him as among one of the best. Sitting on a sub-woofer in front of the stage, Darren performed a “playing on the porch” blues song that had many in the crowd coming over to the Suncoast merch table to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win one of the custom-built cigar box guitars.

Opening the show were Julie Black and Dave Eichenberger. The duo played a collection of blues, soul, and jazz to the appreciative audience.

Suncoast was proud to host this fundraiser for Memphis Lighting’s trip to Memphis. Thank you to Gill Dawg for providing the venue and GoTonight for partnering with SBS to put on this show, and especially to the fans that came out. Your generosity to Memphis Lightning, both in applause and tips are appreciated by the band and by Suncoast Blues Society. Thank you to the members who renewed or signed up for new SBS memberships. Your membership dollars help SBS put on events such as this.

Overall, a wonderful day under stunningly gorgeous weather conditions.

– Review and photos by Scott Morris

Blues Family Reunites

The 2021 Blues Bash at the Ranch was a true celebration. It was hard to tell who was more excited to be there, the bands for having a stage or the blues fans for finally hearing some live music. Here are the highlights.

The Dottie Kelly Band started the weekend off with a BANG!  Her all-star band included legendary lead guitarist Daryll Rains, Robert Carter on bass, and Maurice Dukes on drums. Dottie’s energy was contagious, and we were off to a great start.

Everyone agreed that Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones have never sounded better. Zac Pomerleau on drums is really reaching “the zone” with his harmonica skills.  And who can put words to what Andrew Gohman is doing to his upright bass. Screaming!!

Next came RB Stone, with Steve Arvey on bass.  RB showed his best “Trans Genre” form.  RB has a very engaging stage presence and tells some great stories.

The best part of Friday night might have been the jam when Dottie Kelly and Steve Arvey went toe to toe and Zac came out from behind the drum kit and just wailed on his harp. We also got a preview of Gabe Stillman.

We would like to thank Spike Stephens for organizing a fireside jam featuring Tas Cru and RB Stone around a glowing fire pit on a chilly evening.  It’s the kind of thing that makes this event truly memorable. Thank you Tas and RB for your warmth also.

On Saturday Brad Vickers and his Vestapolitans entertained us with some great tunes from Elmore James, several from Tampa Red and even Fats Domino! Brad’s great band included Jim Davis on saxophone and clarinet, Bill Rankin on drums, and Marsha Peters on bass and vocals.

Tas Cru and his band deserved to be headliners. His band included Tom Craig working as a sideman, Chris Alexander on keyboard, Sonny Rock on drums, and our very own Bill Hubbard with a stellar bass line.  Local phenom Trey Wanvig even got a brief cameo on guitar.  Stay tuned for more news from your Suncoast Blues Society about Trey.

Dustin Arbuckle and The Damnations put on an energetic crowd pleasing set that had the front stage dance floor packed. This Wichita, Kansas-based band plays a “cross-genre eclectic” mix of music, and they are exceptionally good within this format. Led by Dustin’s voice and skilled harmonica play the band fit very well at this event. Brandon Hudspeth’s guitar playing was among the best heard at this festival.  The crowd surely enjoyed the performance as the band left the stage to a rousing ovation. Having enjoyed Dustin’s music since his days in Moreland & Arbuckle it was a pleasure once again to hear Dustin’s voice and harmonica playing, and now a fan of Brandon’s guitar work.

Tom Craig Band’s set confirmed he wasn’t just a sideman.  His great original tunes included one entitled “Captain Funk” that local photographer Jim Hartzell immediately claimed for his new theme song!  Once again there was Bill Hubbard looking hip holding down that low end, Sonny Rock on drums, and “Detroit” Mike Hepner adding sweet riffs from the keyboards.  Great blues by Tom Craig Band!

Joel DaSilva Band came over from the east coast of Florida and put on a smoking hot set of music. This intense set included creative sounds from blues, rock, and international sounds traced from Joel’s Brazilian roots. A bit of blues, a bit of rockabilly, and some heavy metal smashed together to create an interesting mix of music.

Gabe Stillman Band hit the stage at 8pm and did not disappoint. The noticeably slimmer version of Gabe pitched nothing but love to the audience.  Some of his vocals and lyrics remind one of an early Johnny Lang.  Scorching guitar riffs from this Gibson Guitar Award winner at the International Blues Challenge prevailed. However, this writer would like to thank Gabe for that one slow song.

Eliza Neals performance was electrifying.  Having “Detroit” Mike Hepner on B3 freed Eliza up to do her thing on stage, and she did her thing.  Love that smile. No one was more excited to be back on a stage with a live audience and it showed. Eliza worked it.  Probably one of her best performances ever.

On Sunday Deb Ryder came all the way from California to showcase her blues style. It was great to hear Deb again inserting a little humor into the blues. The crowd favorite was “New Mechanic (Patrick’s Blues)”.  Local keyboard wizard “Professor” Michael Hensley contributed keyboard to this set. Love your groove Deb.

Harper and Midwest Kind added their unique sound to the festivities. Harper is famous for his didgeridoo, but many don’t realize how talented he is on the harmonica.

The James Armstrong Band was a perfect final act with some “True Blues.”  Here came the smooth guitar licks sounding like they were coming from some smoke-filled backroom down the alley. Great finish for a very memorable weekend.

Many thanks to Paul and Jean Benjamin and Greg and Roseanne Herndon.  Also Red the maintenance man.  Thanks also to our local photographers “Captain” Jim Hartzell and Rick Lewis for documenting the event with their high-quality photos. We love y’all!

(Pictures courtesy of Jim Hartzell and Rick Lewis)