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Shannon McNally & Hot Sauce Live at the Continental Club

Shannon McNally & Hot Sauce
Originally uploaded by mjbarz

Shannon McNally & Hot Sauce kicked off my SXSW week at the Continental Club the night before the official start of the music festival. With her band Hot Sauce, she delivered a solid, energetic set of Mississippi-tinged blues and roots rock. Also good to catch Hot Sauce guitar player Eric Deaton in action again. I'd first seen Deaton live, playing with the legendary T Model Ford at the Nelsonville Music Festival.

McNally and band live at the Continental Club was a great way to start the week.

McNally's new album, Coldwater, was released last fall.

Links:

• Shannon McNally home page and MySpace.
• Buy Coldwater.
• Eric Deaton on MySpace.

 

Elvin Bishop performs on this week's Prairie Home Companion

Elvin Bishop will perform live on this week's episode of Prairie Home Companion. Check local listings!

Abbe May, smoking blues rock to start the new year

Came across The Devil & Abbe May on the 12/19 edition of The Waiting Room. Led me to search for more songs by Australian rocker Abbe May, including a sonic cover of Nick Cave's "Dig Lazarus, Dig." If you like your rock bluesy or your blues rocky, check her out: 

Remembering Koko Taylor

Chicago blues legend Koko Taylor dies at 80 (Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune)

Blues queen Koko Taylor dies at 80 (AP)

"QUEEN OF THE BLUES" KOKO TAYLOR 1928 - 2009 (Jam Base)

Blues Legend Koko Taylor Dies at 80 (Spinner)

In memoriam: Koko Taylor, “Queen of the Blues” (TimeOut Chicago)

"I take a day at a time, because tomorrow ain't promised to none of us," Koko Taylor

Blues Legend Koko Taylor Dies at Age 80

"Blues is my life," ... "It's a true feeling that comes from the heart, not just something that comes out of my mouth" -- Koko Taylor

'Queen of the Blues' Koko Taylor dead at 80 (Chicago Sun-Times)

Blues icon Koko Taylor dies (Chicago Breaking News Center)

Billy Branch delivers a blast of blues at Harper College

Who says that the blues must be depressing? On a bleak, rainy Sunday afternoon Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues conjured up 90+ minutes of musical sunshine at Harper College's Performing Arts Center.

Playing to a small, but enthusiastic crowd, Branch payed homage to blues masters with vibrant covers and inspired harmonica performances on John Lee Hooker's "Boom, Boom," and Jimmy Reed's "You Got Me Runnin'" among many others. He even welcomed a member of the audience on stage for a harmonica duet during "You Got Me Runnin.'" The set closed with a Branch original, "Butter Your Corn," and a rave-up cover of Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Working."

And what a band, this line up of the Sons of Blues features Branch on harmonica and vocals; Dan Coscarelly, playing a blistering guitar; Ariyo, amazing on piano; Nick Charles, too cool and creative on bass and the guy who looked like he was having the best time of the afternoon, Mose Rutues on drums.

• Branch also founded Chicago's "Blues in Schools" program. 
• Billy Branch on Myspace.

The Jimi Hendrix of the dobro

Weekend America delivers this great feature of Jerry Douglas. A great history of his career and the dobro in modern American music.

Muddy Waters tribute today in Westmont, Illinois

This evening, Westmont, Illinois celebrates its most famous resident, Muddy Waters, with a tribute concert beginning at 7 p.m., following a three-hour open mic blues jam that begins at 3 p.m. The tribute lineup includes:

• BILLY BRANCH
• BILLY FLYNN
• SHIRLEY KING - Daughter of BB King
• MUD MORGANFIELD - Eldest son of Muddy Waters
• EDDIE TAYLOR JR. - Son of great blues guitarist and songwriter Eddie Taylor
• BARRELHOUSE CHUCK

If you're like me and won't be able to make the show, celebrate by spinning some great Muddy Waters' sides. In fact, as I write this, I'm listening to Muddy Waters Live 1971 at Mr. Kelly's.

Keep your Mojo working

Here's what I love about SXSW, even before the music fest officially begins, stuff happens.

Last night, after fish tacos at the Paradise Cafe, we wandered over to Nuno's Bar and Grill (By the way, fish tacos was supper, not a band. Though later our cab driver thought we had seen "Fish Tacos.").

After a fine set of Texas Blues by a local band, blues legend, three-time Grammy winner and American treasure Pinetop Perkins took the stage. We watched Pinetop blaze his way on electric piano and vocals through an amazing five-song set, including a rollicking version of "Got my Mojo Working." 

We left Nuno's with Pinetop still playing. Far as I know, he played well into the night and with his vitality, he may still be playing this morning.

My pre-SXSW Pinetop experience has inspired a new toast: "May you live to be 94, with your good health and with you Mojo working."

Check back for photos of Pinetop at Nuno's after I get them off my camera and onto Radio Barz.

Listen Up: Ray Bonneville

Check out Red House Records artist Ray Bonneville's "Big Easy," from his new CD Goin' By Feel. Ray will perform at SXSW this year. Hope to catch him live.