Oh
the places
we've
played . . .
My manager (Mark) continues to remind me that I should write up a list of all the places where I've performed. It's hard to do something like that going backward, but fortunately, I have lists (for the IRS mostly) of all of the shows I was paid for, and a lot of the non-paid performances stand out for sentimental reasons. So, this list is a beginning, and it will continue to be filled out over time.
If I played with you somewhere and it isn't listed here, e-mail me and I'll bring it up to date.
To tell the story completely, I would have to take you back to my grade school days. However, in the interest of INTEREST, I'll jump directly to the good part. If you want more prehistoric information, you can click on one of the links above: (both links will be active soon)
The Early Days From the Baja to the Blues
July 4th, 1999 was a great day for me. My friend Connie Vidos and I went to the Taste of Chicago to see Brian Setzer perform with his orchestra. That night, we had plans to go to Buddy Guy's Legends for the open mic. My friend and karate mentor, Janelle DeWitt agreed to join us. Due to a mixup in communication, we arrived there over an hour early. I was the first person to sign up on the play list, and I went up at the very beginning of the night, sitting in with a swamp-rock band from Tallahassee.
From there, my recollection blurs.
Ten minutes later, I floated off the steps from the stage, still in a stupor that my slow blues solo (during what song -- I don't even remember) had somehow magically brought the crowd alive. A few beers and the support of some girlfriends, and WOW. I was completely surprised when blues legend, Barkin' Bill Smith approached and asked me, "Do you wanna play at House of Blues next Friday?"
Of course, the only answer I could utter was "YES!" From there, everything changed, and my days of only wanting to play out were over. Needless to say, that night marked a turning point in my life.
I became a member of Cold Sweat, Barkin' Bill's band, and it was an incredible experience. I had spent time in Blues School at the Old Town School of Folk Music, but I really had no idea what real performing would be like. This wasn't background music at somebody's wedding reception. This was supposed to be entertainment. Barkin' Bill looked the part, dressed up in silk suits, hats, and shiny shoes, and he expected his band to look great as well. Stage presence was another aspect that I had never thought much about, but watching Bill, who was 70 years old, made me realize that style is vital. Of course, he had over 50 years to perfect his show . . . I'm still working on mine.
The shows I played with Barkin' Bill and Cold Sweat were:
07/16/99
(Friday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues (Chicago)
07/17/99 (Saturday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues (Chicago)
The first two House
of Blues shows were
quite intense. I didn't have anything that was "right" to wear,
and I had only learned 85% of the songs in a rehearsal several days before the
show. I wasn't confident about my parts, and I knew I didn't look cool
enough. Fortunately for me, the guys in the band were very nice, and Bill
thought I was his prize. If he was going to have a woman in the band, she
was going to be respected, and stuck right out in front. He was very proud
of his find, and I was grateful to be a part of the group.
07/20/99
(Tuesday)
9:00 PM
Buddy Guy's Legends
By the time the Legends gig rolled around, I was feeling more comfortable and things were beginning to click. I'd shopped for cooler clothes, shiny shoes, and other necessary accessories, and I was relying on my written notes for the music less and less. I was completely excited to play this venue because the blues school gigs had been held at Legends during Sunday afternoons. Of course, I had told folks, sheepishly, that I had played at Buddy Guy's, but in my heart, I knew it was something of a white lie. Now, it was the real deal. I was performing, and getting paid to perform, at Buddy Guy's Legends -- standing on the same stage where Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and BUDDY GUY HIMSELF had played to capacity crowds! And, even though the history of Legends made it seem like an incredible place to perform, the lighting, acoustics and engineering staff made it a TREMENDOUS place to perform. I honestly don't think I've ever sounded better or felt more comfortable at any show than I did at the Legends shows. It is just a terrific place to play.
Another neat thing about Legends is how the crowd reacts. I absolutely love to play for the true blues fan. You know, the person who doesn't have a lot of money, probably drinks and smokes just a little more than he/she should, is a tiny bit overweight and sadly under appreciated. These are the folks who will talk back to the music and holler out loud if the spirit moves them. The ladies will be dancin' and the fellows will be pounding on the tables.
I really
believe that nothing brings out the best in an artist like the loud "Oh,
you know it baby," of a slightly tipsy blues fan. When they talk to
me, or shout out in appreciation, it only makes me want to play with more
passion and more intensity. Those are the folks who drive us to put our
hearts into the music and as they applaud what they hear, the cycle continues .
. . better and better blues.
There's also the little twinge of star power that you feel when the tourists want to remember your name, just in case. Buddy Guy is typically at the club early, and he autographs CDs, T-Shirts, hats, etc. which people buy from the boutique. (By the way, he is a super person. Always very nice to everyone, and really gracious to his fans.) People were actually bringing the items that Buddy Guy had signed earlier over to us, and asking us to autograph them also. Now, how cool is that?
Also, Barkin' Bill was something of a super-star at Legends. He lived only a few blocks from the club, and the entire staff knew and loved him. We really received star treatment there.
07/23/99
(Friday)
10:00 PM
Smoke Daddy
The first show I
played at Smoke Daddy was a thrill because Mark and I had been going to the crowded little joint for
late night blues and barbecue for years. Never a cover and always a good
time, Smoke Daddy has the "neighborhood" feel that you don't find in a
lot of Chicago blues venues. It's situated in a used-to-be-worse,
now yuppies-are-moving-in area, and the clientele is a mix of ages, races
and socioeconomic classes. The one thing they have in common is their love
of the music.
Barkin' Bill was loved here as well.
07/26/99
(Monday)
8:30 PM
Famous Dave's (Chicago)
Famous Dave's was another place that Mark and I had visited several times on our own.
They have wonderful barbecue (I recommend the rib tips!) and a huge stage.
We always saw really top notch acts there, and I never in my wildest dreams
imagined that it would EVER be possible for me to play there. It was a
real treat. It was during this show when Mark got to meet Barkin'
Bill.
08/03/99 (Tuesday) 9:30 PM Blues (on Halsted)
B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted was a neat show because BLUES is an authentic place. It's a tiny little hole in the wall, but it packs. The night we played there was part of their August-Fest. They gave us T-Shirts which had the August schedule on it, and Barkin' Bill's picture on the back. This show was a little difficult because the stage was a little too small for all of us, and it was difficult to see one another (important for me, still a rookie). There was also the saga of the drummers. Barkin' Bill had a real problem with drummers, they just all seemed to really "piss him off". I remember this show well because the drummer who Bill fired at the Buddy Guy's gig showed up for a drink and glared at us (well, it felt like that anyway) during the show. That was my first taste of the not-so-comfortable feeling that goes along with playing professionally. Real artists have to watch out for themselves, and they choose their supporting musicians accordingly. However, this can lead to a cut-throat mentality, and when you mix egos and hurt feelings . . . it gets a little ugly sometimes.
08/05/99
(Thursday)
9:30 PM
Slippery Noodle Inn (Indianapolis)
The Slippery Noodle
Inn was my first ever traveling gig. While it
truly is exciting to go to a different city to play, it's also a pain in the
butt. This was Mark's birthday, and he really wanted to be there for the
show, but he had to work the next morning. This meant that we had to drive
4 or 5 hours to Indy, and then turn around and drive home after the show.
Needless to say, my designated driver (and birthday boy) got a little hammered
while I was playing and neither one of us was in great shape by the time the
show was over. However, we pulled it together, and both of us made it to
work on time the next morning.
This show was really fun. Mark taped the entire first two sets using a digital camcorder that Bill had bought. The excitement of traveling had everyone in a good humor (except for Bill toward the drummer -- this one had asked him for gas money and told him that if he was going to have food in the car, he had to bring enough for everyone) and we were really jazzed to play. The guys were staying at a place arranged by the Slippery Noodle, so they were looking forward to their "overnight". I just loved the feeling when they announced that we were "FROM CHICAGO!" The audience here was great, and this is where I met Tom Sawyer, who wrote the poem Rhonda's Song for me.
08/14/99
(Saturday)
10:30 PM
Abner's Yard (Wrigleyville)
The Abner's Yard gig was not fun at all. It was Bill's birthday (71) and the folks at Abner's had arranged to have a cake. That was all very nice. The rest of the show however . . . what a nightmare. People were walking through the band to get to the restrooms. The bar was nearly empty, and the people who were there were quite indifferent to our performance. Wrigleyville on a Saturday night just might have been better suited to an alternative or rock band. It just wasn't fun.
Also, they didn't have PA equipment, so that had been rented and hauled in. At the end of the night, there was the never-fun, who's-taking-what-piece routine. Mark and I ended up with Bill, and we drove him back to his place. It was an interesting conversation as he complained about one member of the band -- indicating that he wanted to fire him. This was a little scary for me, as I thought that the decision was a little rash. Sure, there was a revolving door where the drummers were concerned, but . . . the rest of us had been pretty standard. This was a side of Bill that I hadn't seen, and it was a little frightening. He was after all, and old man; set in his ways, and entitled to respect. He was also a blues musician . . . unappreciated and tired of it.
08/17/99
(Tuesday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
08/18/99 (Wednesday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
08/19/99 (Thursday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
The next three House of Blues gigs were the beginning of the end. These were hard for me because I was working full time during the days. It's not so bad to go without sleep for one night, or even two, but by the third . . . well . . . it's just hard to enjoy yourself, and it's even harder to try to put on a good show.
By the end of the last night, Bill was angry with me. I had been taping shows on a little jam box since the very beginning. I used the tapes to practice, and also to evaluate my playing. Did it all sound the same? Was it good, or was it lame? At any rate, Bill had asked me for copies of all the tapes I had made. (Being a blues musician, he was always wary of anyone trying to take advantage of him.) I told him that I had been working every day and hadn't had time to make the tapes, and that really angered him. I was sure that I would be fired, but I was tired and frustrated enough not to really care.
At the end of the night, Bill got into a little disagreement with the sound technician at HOB. He supposedly indicated later that he was angry enough to cut the man. (I think he meant with a knife -- you have to remember, he's from a different world than you and I.) I remember wondering what had gotten into him. He was just nasty on that last night.
Several days later, we learned that Bill had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His health had been deteriorating for some time. None of us knew it, but that House of Blues show would be the final performance for Barkin' Bill Smith. Cold Sweat would continue on, with a different front man, and with various players on drums and bass. The situation with the rhythm section was always something of a joke, continuing Barkin' Bill's legacy of difficulty with drummers.
Nothing was the same after Bill was gone. Admittedly, a lot of the tension left when Bill retired from the stage, but a lot of the style and class of the blues tradition left as well. Our new front man was a talented vocalist, but we began playing different music which was more his taste, and the sophistication that Bill had brought to the stage was sadly and noticeably missing. At the time, we were just trying to cover the dates that had already been scheduled. We still didn't realize that Bill wouldn't eventually be "back".
08/26/99
(Thursday)
9:30 PM
Blues Etc.
The show is cancelled. The show is on. The show is cancelled. Can you get there in 30 minutes?
This is the way the night of the Blues, Etc. show played out. We knew that Bill was sick, and would not be able to make the show. We planned to play it with a different singer, but then (supposedly) the owner of Blues, Etc. told us that he didn't want us without Bill. Then, I guess when he realized that he wouldn't have anyone else, he reconsidered, and the show was back on. However, since we'd all been told the show was off . . . well . . . you get the idea.
There was a S-C-R-A-M-B-L-E, and the singer showed up late, but hey, that's showbiz! Blues, Etc. was a nice enough place, but the sound wasn't great, and some friend of the owner sat in for most of the last set. (Unusual . . .?) Anyway, the show did go on.
08/27/99
(Friday)
10:00 PM
Smoke Daddy
08/28/99 (Saturday)
10:00 PM
Smoke Daddy
From this point, the shows begin to blur and nothing distinguishing stands out about a number of them. For those, there will be no comments.
09/06/99
(Monday)
7:30 PM
Famous Dave's (Chicago)
Following
this show, I was supposed to be eliminated from the band. Of course, I
didn't know this until much later. A keyboard player came to this show and
several of my band mates were a little frustrated by this. After all, we
were a 5 piece band, and we were paid for 5 pieces. Adding a 6th piece
meant that everyone took home less money. Several of us worked day jobs,
so it didn't make that much difference, but others of us had to
depend on the
money from gigs for survival. Needless to say, the group dynamic was
bounced out of whack on this night, and the show wasn't as crisp as it could
have been. The keyboard player issue bothered me only mildly. I
didn't care so much about the money, but the format -- who solos when, and who
lays out when, who harmonizes what, etc. was messed up. Adjusting to the
new singer was difficult enough without complicating things. Further, we
were concerned that we would lose gigs when venues realized that Bill was no
longer part of the package. There just didn't seem to be any room for
unnecessary improvisation at this point.
When the show was finished, I noticed something unusual as I was paid. There was a little bit of sadness, sort of a "sorry" about the way the night ended. I wouldn't find out until over a year later that this should have been my last night with the band. Why did they want to fire me? I don't really know. Why did they keep me? Because they decided that Barkin' Bill had chosen me, and as long as he was still alive, whether he could perform with us or not, I was part of his band.
I'm glad they made that decision.
10/09/99
(Saturday)
9:30 PM
Martha's Midway Tavern (South Bend)
After the
success of the Slippery Noodle Inn, I was really looking forward to the show at
the Martha's Midway Tavern. Unfortunately, well let's just say that it was
anti-climatic. Even though our singer had been doing radio
"appearances" and the club owner had promoted us furiously --- well
---- no one showed up. It was a long drive for a boring gig. The
highlight of the night was seeing where Bill had written his name above the
stage. It was sort of like he was there with us in spirit. 
10/12/99
(Tuesday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
10/13/99 (Wednesday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
10/26/99 (Tuesday)
9:30 PM
Buddy Guy's Legends
11/16/99 (Tuesday)
7:30 PM
Famous Dave's (Chicago)
12/09/99 (Thursday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
12/11/99 (Saturday)
9:00 PM
House of Blues Hotel
12/16/99 (Thursday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
01/15/00
(Saturday)
9:00 PM
House of Blues Hotel
01/24/00 (Monday)
9:00 PM Famous
Dave's (Chicago)*
*The show
was cancelled but we still got paid!
01/29/00
(Saturday)
9:00 PM
House of Blues Hotel
I remember this show as one of my very favorites. First of all, there
might be a little more glamour involved with playing in the House of Blues
Restaurant, but I have to tell you that playing in the lobby of the House of
Blues Hotel was just about a million times more "cool". I've
never seen the inside of any of the hotel rooms, but if they're half as
"hip" as the hotel lobby (and the ladies room) then you really have to
stay at the HOBH the next time you visit Chicago. The lobby is comfortably
furnished with cozy living room furniture so it's much more relaxed than the
atmosphere in the restaurant. Also, the
alcohol-for-the-"talent"-policy is a little different in the hotel, so
basically we were able to drink more for less!
Probably the very best thing about the Hotel gigs was that they were typically on Saturday nights, and that meant that more friends-of-the-band were able to stop by to see the show. Also, in the hotel, I didn't have to put anyone's name on the guest list (and then hope that they didn't embarrass me by not showing up). This show stands out in my mind because we really had a great time that night. One of my girlfriends from work hosted a pre-party at her house, and then about 20 of my co-workers, along with their spouses, friends, and other guests all arrived in the lobby of the House of Blues Hotel. Girlfriends from Chick Singer were in the crowd as well, and a group of Mark's friends, some from Cook County Hospital, and others from his high school days were also there for the fun. It was sort of like playing a private party in someone's living room, except that all of the party-goers were extra special because they were people we knew, and folks who were just so delighted to be "with the band". (When you're working in the financial world, you aren't typically rubbing elbows with the likes of blues musicians.)
There's
nothing so great as having the support of the people you love.
Being able to make them proud of you is just icing on the cake.
02/22/00
(Tuesday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
02/23/00 (Wednesday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
03/24/00
(Friday)
9:30 PM
Buddy Guy's Legends
04/03/00
(Monday)
9:00 PM
Famous Dave's (Chicago)
04/21/00 (Friday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
04/22/00 (Saturday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
05/06/00
(Saturday)
10:00 PM
Buddy Guy's Legends (opening for Eddy "The Chief"
Clearwater)
05/12/00 (Friday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
05/13/00 (Saturday)
10:00 PM
Smoke Daddy
05/16/00 (Tuesday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
05/23/00 (Tuesday)
9:00 PM
Martyrs (with a different band comprised of friends)
06/03/00 (Saturday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
06/27/00 (Tuesday)
10:00 PM
House of Blues
If I were to fast-forward, I'd bring you to the fall of 2000 when we moved to Miami. From there, we'd skip to the summer of 2003, when we moved to Indialantic (central Floirda). More about those later.
