Message from President – “Board Elections”

Message from President – “Board Elections”

Message from President – “Board Elections”

Board Elections!

Last year your Board updated their bylaws – one of the changes we made after much deliberation was that for the sake of continuity, we agreed to elect Board members for 2-year terms.

As you are aware, we sent out requests for several weeks in our weekly Suncoast Blues News that we were looking for individuals to work with us to fill some open Board positions. I was pleased with the response we received! We had the opportunity to meet several dedicated Blues music lovers with an array of skills that will enhance the work of your Board in 2022.

Of the folks that responded, there was 1 person that was eligible to be a full time Board member. The 6 current Board members agreed to another term leaving only 1 open position. Since we had 7 people interested in 7 positions, an election was not needed.

Thus, I would like to present your Suncoast Blues Society Board for 2022:

  • Terri O’Brien will continue as President for the 2nd year of her 2-year term
  • James Randolph will continue as Vice President for the 2nd year of his 2-year term.
  • Scott Morris will continue as Treasurer for the 2nd year of his 2-year term.
  • Jesse Smoot, Pat Smoot and Cheryl Spradling, will remain on the Board for another 2-year term.
  • Lynn Deglin is our newest member of the Board.
  • Lisa Lanza and Linda Rasor have also joined as Alternates.

So, let’s congratulate and meet our new folks…
Lynn Deglin:  After 20+ years in N. California, I moved to St. Pete in October 2020. I am thrilled with the local music opportunities, as well as the plentiful art and outdoor activities. I love the celebratory nature of the Tampa Bay area! Recently, a friend mentioned the Suncoast Blues Society and I am now a member. I was very excited to receive my first newsletter and see how much of this music genre is accessible in the area. Blues is one of my all-time favorites!

I have been an IT Business Systems Analyst / Project Manager for a long time and am about to retire. I want to get engaged in community in a helpful and heart-based way. Being a Board member is a perfect way to do that! I am organized, resourceful and a good problem solver. I am also a very good writer and a long-term photographer.

Linda Rasor:  My interest in becoming a Board member is a result my lifelong love of the Blues. It is important to me not only to preserve this genre but to promote it to younger folk.  It is concerning that the majority of Blues fans are or becoming mature as evident at festivals and concerts.  New and younger fans need to be exposed and cultivated to sustain this art form. Besides my love of the music and artists, I am very interested in working with like minds in a team effort to preserve, promote and support the efforts of the Blues Society.  I wish to meet new folks, work toward a common goal and also have a “fun” experience.

I live in Dunedin and do have the time to devote to the Society.  My professional work involved customer facing experiences and problem solving. I enjoy people interaction and consider myself as a valuable team player. Besides music I am an outdoor enthusiast enjoying bicycling, kayaking and other water sports.

Lisa Lanza:   Blues has been my favorite since the 1960’s and I would enjoy interacting with others who enjoy the Blues as much as I do. I love to volunteer for organizations that I support. I am good at filling gaps. I am very observant, and I work to prevent potential problems from occurring. I have lived in Clearwater since 1978. I am fluent in Spanish. I am always on social media and feel that I can be a benefit to the Board.

 

Afternoon of Blues Music with Doug MacLeod

Afternoon of Blues Music with Doug MacLeod

Afternoon of Blues Music with Doug MacLeod

Afternoon of Blues Music with Doug MacLeod

Suncoast Blues Society and Music Compound are pleased to announce an Afternoon of Blues Music featuring six-time Blues Music Award winner Doug MacLeod in an intimate setting. 

This event will be held at 3pm on Sunday, December 5, 2021, and will be held in the Studio 32 at Music Compound.

General admission tickets are $15 and are now on sale at the SBS Website.

 

About Doug MacLeod

 

Doug MacLeod is known for his superb songwriting, guitar wizardry, warm soulful vocals, wit, and unforgettable live performances. At the heart of a Doug MacLeod performance is his knack for storytelling, bringing characters-from the faceless to the legendary-to strikingly real life.

Doug is a multiple Blues Music Award winner, including the 2020 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Artist of The Year and the 2018 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Album of The Year ‘Break the Chain’

Like the old masters who taught him, MacLeod’s music expresses life and times through an intangible, elusive quality that may simply be a keen sense of what matters most. Doug’s music, stories, and philosophy provide a healing that has helped others overcome the hardships of their lives. Doug says the most important lessons he learned as a young musician came from Ernest Banks a one-eyed country bluesman from Toano, VA.

“Never play a note you don’t believe” and “Never write or sing about what you don’t know about.”

About Music Compound

The Music Compound provides an environment to inspire, collaborate and educate children and adults in pursuit of their love of music.

Members of the Music Compound have access to a wide array of learning opportunities intended to not only build music skills, but also enhance confidence, communication, and social interaction abilities.

Music Compound is located at 1751 Cattlemen Rd Sarasota, FL. A virtual tour of the facility is available on their website.

About This Event

This is the second collaboration between our two organizations. Previously, Suncoast Blues Society provided cigar box guitars and education to children from Sarasota and Manatee counties and Music Compound donated the event space.

Suncoast Blues Society is pleased to provide a limited number of complementary tickets for this event for under-18 students of Music Compound.

Your society will have snacks, beer, and wine available for a donation – similar to the Beach Bash.

 

 

Review: Memphis Lightning November 7th 2021 @Gill Dawg, Port Richey

Review: Memphis Lightning November 7th 2021 @Gill Dawg, Port Richey

Review: Memphis Lightning November 7th 2021 @Gill Dawg, Port Richey

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

“Head East” at Dunedin Blues Fest

“Head East” at Dunedin Blues Fest

“Head East” at Dunedin Blues Fest

“Head East”  at Dunedin Blues Fest

There’s “Never Been Any Reason” to miss Dunedin Wines the Blues. But the 2021 edition of this fest takes on added meaning for Suncoast Blues Society, its members, and supporters. This year your society is sponsoring the East stage at this festival!

And what a line up we have in store for you.

Opening the festivities at 2:00pm will be Trey Wanvig Band. You will want to arrive early to see this young guitarist, singer, song writer and his band perform a set of blues rock.

TBone Hamilton and The Blues All-Stars will hit the stage at 3:45PM. And we are pleased to announce that joining the band is the legendary Tampa Bay harmonica player TC Carr! With a blues resume going back to Rock Bottom I cannot think of a better way for this Society to celebrate on this stage the music we love.

The fun is just beginning because at 5:30pm Brian Leneschmidt Band takes the stage. Brian is one of the hardest working artists in this area and is sure to present a memorable set of music at this fest.

Bring your dancing shoes! Dottie Kelly Band will close out the show with a powerful set of rhythm and blues, and a dash of soul. There show starts at 7:30pm and will close the stage at 9pm.

Make your plans to attend this full day of music in Dunedin. Come on out and support the Fest, the local merchants, and your Society and the stage full of member musicians. At this fest, every band on the SBS sponsored stage has one or more musician’s that are a member of your Society. If you are currently not a member, or your membership has lapsed, this will be the perfect time to sign up and receive your 2 free CD’s. While you are at it, pick up a new shirt – we will have several on sale.

Carolyn Wonderland “Tempting Fate” CD Review by Franc Robert

Carolyn Wonderland “Tempting Fate” CD Review by Franc Robert

Carolyn Wonderland “Tempting Fate” CD Review by Franc Robert

Carolyn Wonderland “Tempting Fate”

CD Review by Franc Robert

WOW!!! Tempting Fate… is one astonishing record. If you have not heard Carolyn Wonderland before, you owe it to yourself to get this CD, like-now!!! Ms. Wonderland can compare to Bonnie Raitt, but hotter like a cayenne pepper. Arguably stronger vocals, and much spicier playing and songwriting.

Right out of the gate, “Fragile Peace and Certain War” fires off on all cylinders with its raging Mississippi Hill Country blues stomp, hound dog wailing slide guitar and impassioned, politically tinged vocals. Vocals that find a higher gear each verse till the final scream that recalls Tina Turner at the height of her powers-yeah, it is that good!

“Texas Girl and Her Boots” is a wonderfully sassy look at the form and function of her boot collection (every girl has more than one pair!), set over a bare-knuckle Texas shuffle with the added treat of Marcia Ball on piano, loads of fun!

“Broken Hearted Blues” is a classic blues rocker with Carolyn detailing every failing of her (now presumably former) lover-the standout here is her vocals, which go from a near whisper to all out wail on the turn of a dime. “Fortunate Few” is more traditional, with the piano more forward in the mix, and very tasty guitar work.

“Crack In the Wall” is a slow Texas waltz, with Cindy Cashdollar adding a haunting lap steel solo.

“The Laws Must Change” shows Ms. Wonderland interpreting her old boss John Mayall’s song, and in the process making it her own. Her guitar scat’s along to her vocals-sometimes doubling, other times finishing the line, before getting to a lyrical but still cutting solo!

“On My Feet” is more of a traditional jazz number, with smooth crooning, and a surprise whistle and guitar call and response solo-very nice and a cool twist! “It Takes a Lot to Laugh It Takes a Train to Cry” features Jimmie Dale Gilmore as a duet partner (sounding like Willie Nelson).

The album closes out with The Grateful Dead’s “Loser”- an unusual choice, but Wonderland makes it work. With its spaghetti western lyrics filtered through a blues-rock-psychedelic kaleidoscope leading to a dramatic rave up solo section. And its spine-tingling final chorus that leaves you wanting more, like a great album should!

Can you give six stars on a 5-star scale? That is what this record is, and I am sure it is already in the running for Blues Music Awards. Cannot wait for Ms. Wonderland to tour Florida!

 

Message from President – “Board Elections”

Message from the President

Message from the President

Message from the President

We have some exciting news to share with you – your Suncoast Blues Society has been asked to sponsor one of the stages at Dunedin Wines the Blues this year on Saturday, November 13th! We have been busy booking artists and have a stellar lineup that will be playing at the EAST Stage:

2:00 – 3:15pm –  Trey Wanvig Band
3:45 – 5:00pm –  The TBone Hamilton Band
5:30 – 7:00pm –   Brian Leneschmidt Band
7:30 – 9:00pm –   Dottie Kelly Band

And don’t forget…

  • 15-17th we have the 8th Annual Camping with the Blues at Sertoma Youth Ranch.
  • Nov 2, head up north to Homosassa for Blues ‘n Bar-B-Que sponsored by the Nature Coast Friends of Blues (NCFOB).
  • Nov 7th SBS will be back at Gill Dawg in Port Richey to feature our Regional IBC Challenge winner, Memphis Lightningwith Julie Black
  • The 10th anniversary of the Bradenton Blues Festival Weekend,  3-5th