Alastair Greene Band at Side Door

Alastair Greene Band at Side Door

Alastair Greene Band at Side Door

Alastair Greene Band

Side Door, July 15. 2022

A large and enthusiastic crowd of rock-blues fans greeted Alastair Greene Band at Suncoast Blues Society’s show at The Side Door at The Palladium in St Petersburg.

Recently relocated from “SoCal” to Austin, TX, Alastair’s tour of the southeast came to St Pete to play at the always comfortable Side Door. The band consists of Alastair Greene on lead guitar, vocals, and song writing; Lonnie Trevino, Jr. on bass and backing vocals; and Luis Balderas on drums.

Playing from his collection of songs the show began with the instrumental Back at the Poor House from the recording 2020’s “The New World Blues”. This set the tone for what became a night heavy with rock blues and Alastair depth fretwork. Sprinkling the show with storytelling and jokes, Alastair described Living Today as a song written prior to the events of the past few years but one that none-the-less fit very well as a positive message on how to deal with  the struggles we all endured.

My favorite song from “The New World Blues” turned out to be Alastair’s as well. Bayou Mile allowed Alastair to describe some of the journey to Houma, Louisiana to make the recording at Tab Benoit’s Whiskey Bayou studio. Given the recent challenges with air travel I can’t help but think that Alastair in his songwriting has a knack for crafting songs that while event-based do not go stale.

Alastair’s witty humor shown through in the preamble to Down To Memphis. From the 2017 release “Dream Train”, Alastair discussed that he wrote the song while listening to a cab driver tell stories in Memphis. And suggested that after “8,000 or so” playing’s of the song from one of the digital streaming services that Alastair may earn enough to send the cabby, oh a $1.50!

Also, from “Dream Train” the band played Lucky 13 and Big Bad Wolf. All three of the songs, plus Lawdy Mama were highlights of this evening and appear on the live recording “Live From The 805”, a 2018 release of a live performance in Santa Barbara, California. For those who could not attend this show this live recording comes close to mirroring the energy in the room during the Side Door show.

Alastair paid homage to Tab, Debbie Davis, and played a version of Peter Green’s Merry Go Round, a song that shows while Alastair can rock with the best of them, he also has deep blue’s chops. As he does so well, Alastair combined both genres and played Robert Johnson’s Stop Breaking Down Blues, in a style that was closer to The Rolling Stones “Exile on Main Street” version than Robert’s original.

Concluding the show, the band returned to the 2009 release “Walking In Circles” with their version of Cut You Loose. While this evening’s version was not as incendiary as the recording, this was an entertaining way for the band to conclude the formal show. This performance had the band building up the tempo, backing it off, and then taking the beat to an even higher level. The audience leapt to their feet for a standing ovation and hearing the requests for an encore the band returned with a blistering version of Johnny Winter’s Mean Town Blues.

For a review of The New World Blues

  • Scott Morris

Treasurer, Suncoast Blues Society

(Photos by the author)

 

In Memoriam: Greg Poulos by TBone Hamilton

In Memoriam: Greg Poulos by TBone Hamilton

In Memoriam: Greg Poulos by TBone Hamilton

My friend for the past 30 years passed away on April 29th 2022. Greg Poulos was one of the most outstanding guitar players that EVER hailed from the Suncoast – his home. I personally known Greg since the time I was in the Poulos Ramsey Band. I wrote this piece to help heal the tremendous loss we are all feeling as family, friends, fans and band mates and to document a small part of his long successful musical career.

The Suncoast Blues Society asked me to permission to cross post this narrative from my website. Of course I accepted!

Its a story that needs to be shared since the SBS family has been fans of Greg for 25 years!!!

A shout out to Sarasota Guitar Legend – Greg Poulos.  Rest in Peace.

TBone Hamilton

 


In Memoriam: Greg Poulos

 

As I recollect, I met Greg Poulos in 1992. I was playing electric bass in Dan Electro (Mike Shannon) and the Silvertones. At that point I was an up-and-coming blues bass player, and I was fortunate enough to already have played with good bands. One man that was instrumental in my early career was Rock Bottom (David York), the harmonica extraordinaire. He scouted me out early on in the 1990’s. He had another band working with him at the time so I never really worked with him as a member of his band but he would recommend me to other musicians, the first being Clint “Deacon” Fuller. After spending some time with the Deacon Fuller Band, I was recruited by Dan Electro to join his band based upon Rock Bottom’s recommendation. Nineteen ninety two was a great year for me as that is when I met my girlfriend who is now my wife Carolyn Hamilton.

TBone & Greg hanging at Skippers Smokehouse

In the Silvertones, I got to play with a real good drummer named Dennis Laak, an excellent guitar player named Kirby Dietz, and Dan Electro on harmonica. That band played a little bit more funk and shook it up with other interesting tunes that I had not challenged before, and, hence, I was excited about being in the band. The Gator Club in Sarasota hired the band to be the house band. We were there 5 to 6 nights a week, Tuesday through Saturday, so literally it was a dream gig. We could leave our gear set up all week. I did not know Greg Poulos personally at this point; I only knew the name and knew that the man was an astounding guitar player.

Well, fast forward. Rock Bottom ended up having a heart attack and all the Tampa Bay blues community came together and had benefit concerts for him, one of which I performed at – the Gator Club in Sarasota, Florida.

READ MORE HERE > 

 

 

No More Worlds to Conquer Robin Trower

No More Worlds to Conquer Robin Trower

No More Worlds to Conquer Robin Trower

No More Worlds to Conquer

Robin Trower 

As he draws nearer to the age of eighty, guitarist Robin Trower just gains more momentum with consistent studio releases. Remaining sidelined from live performances in the last couple of years due to the pandemic, Robin just uses the downtime to go into the Provogue studio to record the endless number of compositions he keeps writing.

The man responsible for the classic rock 1974 opus Bridge Of Sighs has a special place in the hearts of those of us as teen-agers who had blacklight posters wearing headphones letting songs like “Day Of The Eagle” and “Bridge Of Sighs” transport us to that special place that was an adolescent comfort zone.

Other reviewers have coined the phrase “psychedelic blues” in describing Trower’s music. It’s an old cliche but it best describes Trower’s approach to his Hendrix infused pedal/reverb guitar lines that deeply resonate with soul he imbibes

Letting vocalist Richard Watts sing the tunes that fulfill his vision, the Strat tones shimmer and ride the groove immediately from the onset. The medium paced “Ball Of Fire” opens the party and can become a live staple in Trower’s live sets. The title track can do the same thing with Robin coaxing his reverb drenched notes awash in an elixir he can create.

It’s a long way from the seventies in which he reigned strongly in the concert arenas. Since then, Trower has become comfortable in his role as elder statesman of the blues. Never one for speedy deliveries or a thousand note attacks doesn’t hinder him from transmitting emotion that is strong in his single note attacks. It’s the stuff guitar geeks can soak up when they purchase their Fender guitars and Marshall amps. Add a pedal board to the mix and you have the tools of trade.

While his tunes don’t headbang with the fire and fury of his classic rock yesteryear, Robin lays down his psychedelic blues smoke in the hazy “Birdsong.” The tempo picks up with Robin’s lyrical lines in “Losing You” that segues into the same paced “Waiting For The Rain To Fall.”

These tunes follow the same blueprint. Slow approaches undercut by Robin’s ethereal spacy notes that serve the purpose of creating atmosphere. Not disrupting it.

“Cloud Across The Sun” can be a great addition to Trower’s live sets as it gallops with rocking urgency that recalls a younger Robin in his heyday. Then it’s back to the slow crawl of “Fire To Ashes” with Robin’s ghostly guitar riding the bedrock of rhythm fleshed out by soulful keyboards.

“Razors Edge” with its lyrics pointing fingers at the politicians taking the world in a downward trajectory is the package of blues rock histrionics that could have found a home on Trower’s earlier work. Blues awash in psychedelia that only Robin can play.

The Hendrix influence is strong within the love song “I Will Always Be Your Shelter” that can lull couples into a warm embrace with Trower’s airy guitar painting broad strokes across the canvass.

If one wants to think of Robin as blues of the twenty first century, then it’s an honorable designation to live with.

  • Gary Weeks

 

We Have a Winner!

We Have a Winner!

We Have a Winner!

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to Suncoast Blues Society’s 2022 International Blues Challenge Champions, Memphis Lightning, as they took home the award for 2022 Best Self-Produced CD!

 

At the International Blues Challenge, The Blues Foundation awards the affiliate band judged to have submitted the best self-produced recording at that year’s event.

As a Suncoast Blues Society member musician, Memphis Lightning was eligible to have Suncoast Blues Society submit this recording on their behalf. There is no requirement that the band won our regional challenge – there is not even a requirement that the band or solo/duo artist competed at the challenge. However, Blues Foundation Affiliated Blues Societies must submit entries for the Best Self-Produced CD.

If you have a Self-Produced CD and are interested in submitting your recording for consideration in the next International Blues Challenge, please contact events@suncoastblues.org for additional information. The official contest rules are available at https://blues.org/self-produced-cd-award/

Be sure to pick up your copy of Borrowed Time, the 2022 Best Self-Produced CD, the next time you see Memphis Lighting perform.

John Mayall Interview

John Mayall Interview

John Mayall Interview

John Mayall Interview

Blues Blast Magazine has an excellent interview with John Mayall. Written by the former President of Suncoast Blues Society, Mark Thompson, the piece contains many points of interest about John, former band members, and his songwriting process. Mark’s interview left me wanting to perform a deeper dive into John’s catalog!

You can read the interview at Blues Blast John Mayall.

Recently, SBS published a review of John’s latest (according to John’s discography the 67th!) recording of his career.

The Sun is Shining Down review can be found here SBS CD Review.

When writing about John I would be remiss without remembering our friend, Mike Shivvers. Mike was a huge fan of John Mayall and was all set to film a performance of John’s at The Capital Theatre in Clearwater. A show cancelled due to the pandemic. Forever I will link Mike’s memory with John Mayall and his music.

Mike’s skill as a videographer is evident with a video captured in 2016 of John’s show in Stuart, FL. This show featured Jay Davenport and Greg Rzab – both mentioned by John in his interview with Mark. Mike’s YouTube site has this video, and others of John.

 

  • Scott Morris
2022 Tampa Bay Blues Fest Tickets

2022 Tampa Bay Blues Fest Tickets

2022 Tampa Bay Blues Fest Tickets

*** FINAL DAY FOR TICKETS is March 30th 2022 ***

Tampa Bay Blues Fest is coming soon, and Suncoast Blues Society (SBS) will be back in their usual place next to the artist’s tent.

And what a great lineup – you are not going to want to miss this!

If you are a current member of SBS, you are eligible to receive a $10 discount on your ticket(s) so the cost for members will be:

  • Friday general admission – $50
  • Saturday general admission – $50
  • Sunday general admission – $40

Purchase your tickets through SBS website. (https://suncoastblues.org/product/2022-tampa-bay-blues-fest-tickets/)

You will receive a confirmation and your name will be placed on the “will-call” list at the gate.

If you are not a current member, you can sign up today to take advantage of this offer. https://suncoastblues.org/product/sbs-membership/

If you have any questions, contact Jesse at membership@suncoastblues.org