THE REX GRANITE BAND SARAH BENCK HAMILTON — … · The Nace Brothers ($10) ... Jody Marker Roger...

Volume TwenTy-Three, number one • January 2018

Chrome Lounge

8552 Park Drive, Omaha402 - 339 - 8660

All shows 6 pm unless notedThe Blues Society of Omaha Presents

Thursday Jan. 4th .... The Rex Granite Band featuring Sarah Benck with The Tony Meza Band featuring Billy Bacon and the Lincoln Logs. IBC Sendoff Party! ($10) Thursday Jan. 11th ..... Tas Cru and his band of Tortured Souls ($10)Thursday Jan. 18th ..............................Hamilton Loomis ($12/$15)Thursday Jan. 25th ....................................James Armstrong ($10)Thursday Feb. 1st ..............JJ Thames and the Violet ReVolt ($10)Thursday Feb. 8th ..............................................Tinsley Ellis ($15)Thursday Feb. 15th ............................................ Jason Ricci ($10)Thursday Feb. 22nd ............................... The Nace Brothers ($10)

THE REX GRANITE BAND featuring SARAH BENCK

— IBC SENDOFF —

Thursday January 4th • Chrome Lounge

THURSDAY JANUARY 11th

CHROME LOUNGE

and His Band of Tortured

Souls

HAMILTONLOOMIS

CD Release PartyThursday January 18th

Chrome Lounge

HAMILTONLOOMIS

CD Release PartyThursday January 18th

Chrome Lounge

JAMES ARMSTRONGWednesday, January 24th

ZOO BAR

Thursday, January 25thCHROME LOUNGE

BLUES NEWS • BLUES SOCIETY OF OMAHA

Why Join the Blues Society Of Omaha with Your Membership Donation?The Blues Society of Omaha, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 1998. We are an all-volunteer organization with over 800 dues-paying members. BSO’s mission is “Keepin’ the Blues Alive”. We are recognized as one of the top Blues Societies in the country. With the help of your tax-deductible donation we continue to promote blues music, blues musicians, and live music venues & events. Among our many projects and accomplishments are these:• BSO promotes musicians and venues by maintaining a comprehensive live music calendar on our website, omahablues.com. BSO also

distributes free monthly news flyers with calendars to numerous public gathering spots to inform the general community of live music shows in the area.

• BluesEd is a non-profit youth artist development program created and sponsored by Blues Society of Omaha. The BluesEd program began in 2001 to provide opportunities for young musicians to learn blues music in a series of workshops and to play with other students in a band format. Our BluesEd bands always are impressive and they have performed at some of the finest festivals & venues in and around Omaha.

• The Blues Society of Omaha has hosted an annual Nebraska Blues Challenge competition for local bands since 2011. All of the participating bands are showcased in judged public events as they compete for a package of prizes and the honor of representing BSO at the International Blues Challenge competition held in Memphis. All of the winning Nebraska bands have gone on to receive national attention and acclaim while making BSO proud!

• BSO produces and/or sponsors various music events throughout the year. • BSO is a contributor to and supporter of Playing With Fire, a series of free outdoor concerts held each summer in Omaha since 2004.• BSO provides support to The Zoo Bar, Lincoln’s legendary and award-winning blues venue. BSO is a sponsor of the annual ZooFest

music festival. • In conjunction with Toy Drive for Pine Ridge, BSO hosts an annual toy drive and concert fundraiser for the children of Pine Ridge

Reservation.• BSO regularly produces charitable events for musicians in need.

As a member and donor, you are entitled to great membership benefits:• Free subscription to “Blues Notes”, our monthly newsletter that will keep you abreast of blues events in the area, blues CD reviews, and

other articles of interest to blues connoisseurs! • E-blasts with late-breaking blues news. • Special pre-sale and discounted tickets to select events.• Discounts offered by generous local businesses. • Pride in belonging to a group dedicated to “Keepin’ The Blues Alive”!

Please consider switching to the GREEN VERSION of Blues Notes. You will be saving the planet while saving BSO some expense. Contact Sher Newland at [email protected]

to switch to e-mail delivery and get the scoop days before snail mail members!

BLUES ON THE RADIO:Mondays 1pm-3pm on KIOS 91.5 “Blues in the Afternoon” with Mike Jacobs

You can listen to the live stream at www.kios.org

Sundays 9am-Noon on KIWR 89.7 Rick Galusha’s “PS Blues” Pacific Street Blues & Americana podcast:

http://kiwrblues.podOmatic.com/entry/2010-02-03T11_00_49-08_00

Lincoln’s KZUM Radio - Nebraska’s only community radio, and you can listen to it on the web at KZUM.org.

Monday – 3:00-6:00pm “World Gone Wrong Blues”Tuesday – 3:00-6:00pm “Group W Blues”

Wednesday – 3:00-6:00pm “Highway Blues” • 8:30-10:00pm “Radio Gumbo”Thursday – 3:00-5:00pm “Blue Water Mixtape”

Friday – 1:00-3:00pm “Women’s Blues & Boogie” • 3:00-6:00pm “Hudson Blue”Saturday – 6:00-7:00am “Beale Street Caravan” • 7:00-8:00am “Juke in the Back”

Sunday – 2:00-4:00pm “Back at the Chicken Shack”

BLUES NEWS • BLUES SOCIETY OF OMAHA PAGE 3

BSO CORPORATE SPONSORS

Check out B.J. Huchtemann’s column Hoodoo Blues each week in the Omaha READER for info on upcoming shows and other news in the roots-blues music scene.

Look for B.J.’s byline under the Music tab at thereader.com

BLUE CLUB7 Oaks Investments

Glenn & Sheila BauerMichael & Victoria Donaldson

Kit & Pam KelleyScott Kirk

Royce & Jo KreitmanTerry O’Halloran

Tammy Trahan - Corner Bar

CORPORATEDuane BarberMitch Bolte

Jim Bradford, Jr.Chip DavisChick GanzPaul Gerber

Conrad GoodPaul Scott Hoagbin Blues Band

Cheryl HoltzenIntegrity Wealth Mgmt.Craig Kelley, Inserra &

Kelley Law Firm Steve & Lisa Kreuger

Jody MarkerRoger & Sheri Slosson

Ernest SutherlandDan Van HoutenRichard Wolken

Bel Air Merchant’s AssociationChristy Rossiter &112 North Duck

Mama’s Pizza WestPietro DDS - James Pietro

West Point RackRa Neurological – RDS Skin Care

SPECIALBill Bahrke

Matthew BargesMo Barry

Kenny & Linda BentonRobin & Elizabeth Bracy-Robson

Geoff ClarkJohn Doocy

David & Kristine EvansGary Gates

Jason GroenjesDan Hamann

Mike & Sally HansenTodd Higgins

Melvin KoenigSusan & Troy Krupicka

John LangwithHeidi Macy

Sundiata MalenikBonnie Mercer & Kim Burns

Steve & Nancy Mether

Daniel MeyerGreg and Leslie Nichols

John Pollack & Karen BerryMarty Roarty

Paul SandstromMikel Schmidt & Leslie Eurek

Ann ScolaroSid SidnerTim Sorrell

Bob & Becky SwiftBill & Denise TeepleRodney Thorngate

Carlos TorresGreg Virant & Lynn Kost Virant

Don YountsDown Under Lounge

Hawk’s BBQ,Chris & Brenda Hawkinson

John Watt

The Rex Granite Band featuring Sarah Benck are on their way to Memphis. Joining the sendoff festivities is The Tony Meza Band featuring Billy Bacon and the Lincoln Logs. Tons of incredible musicians on one big night. Your support is very much in need as we raise money to send another GREAT band to represent BSO at the International Blues Challenge!

From the artist’s website

THE REX GRANITE BAND featuring SARAH BENCK

— IBC SENDOFF —Thursday January 4th • $10

Chrome Lounge • 8552 Park Dr, Omaha, NE


Thursday January 4th @ 6pm

Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations

$8Friday

January 12th @ 5pm Hector Anchondo

$5Saturday

January 13th @ 6pm Big Daddy Caleb and the Chargers

Wednesday January 24th @ 6 pm

James ArmstrongThursday

January 25th @ 6pm Samantha Fish

Sun January 7th 5-8

Tim BudigThur January 11

5-8 Titanium BlueSat January 13

9-12:30 The Hanyaks

Sun January 14 5-8

Kali IndianaFri January 19

8-11 Lucas Minor Band

Sun January 21 5-8

Big Daddy CalebSun January 28

5-8 Normal Blvd

ALL FREE NO COVER SHOWS


Raucous, rowdy, gentle, sweet, ec-centric, quirky, and outright irrev-erent are all words that fittingly describe Tas Cru’s songs and testi-fy to his reputation as a one of the most unique of bluesmen plying his trade today. It’s not for nothing that Cru has received wide praise for his songwriting. As Downbeat magazine notes, “His songs are blues poetry – crafted with rare verbal flair and his ability to cast a memorable hook is magical!” Bruce Iglauer, founder and president of Alligator Records calls Cru “a rare, real writer.” Live, these songs are performed with power and passion as observed by Living Blues magazine, “The vivacity and sheer joy with which Cru plays is in-toxicating!”

His latest album, Simmered and Stewed released November 11, 2016 on VizzTone Records has received wide acclaim and extensive world wide air-play. It has been featured as a BB King’s Bluesville “Pick to Click” on SiriusXM Radio and made its way on to the highly respected Living Blues Chart. It has been at or near the top of the Roots Music Report’s Contemporary Blues Chart for most of 2017. Simmered & Stewed is eleven songs flavored in most part by resonator, cigar box and acoustic guitar. The album features harmonica, honky-tonk piano, Hammond B3 organ and rich, backing vocals. It is is a worthy follow up to Cru’s 2015 album, “You Keep the Money.” – the hottest de-buting blues album of that year, almost all year long resid-ing at or near the very top of every major blues chart. It end-ed up the #3 blues album of 2015 right behind Buddy Guy at #2 with Shemekia Copeland at #4. On the strength of these two albums Tas has performed at several major blues festivals in 2017 including the Daytona Blues Fest, Caroli-na Downhome Blues Fest, Baltimore Blues Fest, Tinner Hill Blues Fest, Roundbarn Blues Fest, Memphis in May Beale St. Blues Fest, Blues on the Riideau, Jackson Blues Fest and the Wiregrass Blues Festival. A new album, Memphis Song is in the works and will release in 2018.

Based out of upstate New York. Cru performs in a variety of formats ranging from solo acoustic to a 7 piece-backing band. Tas Cru appears at a number of festivals and major blues venues throughout the US and Canada. His music is heard regularly on blues radio worldwide, including Sirius/XM’s BB King’s Bluesville,where he was recently featured as one of four artists selected for its Fall 2016 Concert series. As well, Cru brings his award-winning Blues Education pro-grams and workshops to numerous schools, hospitals and community centers. Tas Cru is a Delaney Guitars (Austin, TX) endorsed artist.

In early bands, Tas was introduced to the great Sun Records sound and the country blues that later served as a counterpoint to the rock- blues he idolized as did so many young guitar players of his time. These combined influences are heard in his music – 50+ original songs on six albums- “Biscuit” (2006), “gravi-Tas “(2008), “Grizzle n’ Bone” (2009), “Jus’ Des-serts” (2010), “Tired of Bluesmen Cryin’” (2012), and his 2015 album, “You Keep the Money.”

Cru grew up in a very musical and generally unquirky family (except for him). Unlike his talented brother and sisters, he did not pursue mu-sic in school. A brief attempt to play the trombone abruptly ended after being kicked by his 7th grade music teacher. Cru says he deserved it. Cru

instead explored and developed his talent by taking up with a rougher crowd of older, self-taught musicians where he was introduced to the songs of the Sun Records legends. Cru’s first foray into the blues came after leaving the US Navy when he was asked to join a band formed by a former shipmate named Delray Streeter, a bluesman of unlimit-ed bravado and attitude but limited singing and harmon-ica skills. Streeter was raised in El Dorado, Arkansas and claimed a rich blues heritage from his upbringing. This part-nership, though short-lived, proved to be very influential as Streeter’s repertoire tended toward the older and much rawer country blues. Cru’s schooling in country blues later served him well and is infused into his original songs along with his Sun Records and rock-blues influences.

As noted above, Tas Cru’s discography includes seven albums of original songs – “Biscuit” (2006), “gravi-Tas “(2008), “Grizzle n’ Bone” (2009), “Jus’ Desserts” (2010), “Tired of Bluesmen Cryin” (2012) “You Keep the Money” (2015) and his brand new Simmered & Stewed. In addition to these recordings is Cru’s 2009 release, “Even Bugs Sing the Blues,’ an album of original blues music for kids and in 2016 he released a blues album for dog lovers called Doggone Blues.

Honors and recognition include Cru being awarded the 2014 Blues Foundation’s Keeping the Blues Alive Award (KBA) for Blues Education and in 2009 named by Blues Festival Guide Magazine as its 2009 Blues Artist on the Rise. In January 2015, the Rum Boogie Café awarded Cru a guitar to auto-graph and hangs among the gallery of artist signed guitars. His latest album, Simmered & Stewed was named 2016 Best Blues Album by the Syracuse Area Music Awards (SAMMYS).


TAS CRU AND HIS BAND OF TORTURED SOULS

Thursday January 11th • $10 • Chrome Lounge • 8552 Park Dr, Omaha, NE

NINETEEN BLUES ACTS UNDER ONE ROOF AND OUT OF THE COLD! Featuring Bryce Janey, Eric Jerardi, Anthony Gomes, Jason Ricci, Reverend Raven & the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys, Heath Alan Band,

Malcolm Wells & the Two Timers, Amanda Fish Band, Grand Marquis, Kilborn Alley, Steepwater Band, Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal.Always a great party and annual fundraiser for the Central Iowa Blues Society.


blues in January & February

FIRST TUESDAY FUNDRAISERWith the Crabby Blues Band

featuring Bucky McCannTuesday, January 2nd from 6 to 9 pm

Shucks, 119th & Pacific, Omaha10% of revenue donated to local Omaha charity Quality Living Inc.

[Tue Jan 02]Crabby Blues Band at Shuck’s (119th & Pacific St.) (6:00 pm) (Shucks)

[Thu Jan 04]Rex Granite Band Featuring Sara Benck – Chrome Lounge – w/ Tony Meza Band featuring Billy Bacon & The Link’in Logs – IBC Sendoff Party – $10 (6:00 pm) (Chrome Lounge)Two Blue @ Fire Barn in Waterloo (6:00 pm) (Fire Barn (Waterloo))

[Fri Jan 05]Tony Meza Band feat. Billy Bacon & The Link’in Logs at B Bar (5:00 pm) (The B Bar)The Mezcal Brothers – The Zoo Bar (5:00 pm) (Zoo Bar)

[Sat Jan 06]The Blues Concert at Metro Community College (7:30 pm) (Metro Community College)Big Daddy Caleb & The Chargers at Growler USA (9:00 pm) (Growler USA)

[Sun Jan 07]Tim Budig – Corner Bar (5:00 pm)

[Thu Jan 11]Tas Cru and his band of Tortured Souls – Chrome Lounge (6:00 pm) (Chrome Lounge)Big Head Todd & The Monsters at Slowdown (7:30 pm) (The Slowdown)Titanium Blue – Corner Bar (5:00 pm)

[Fri Jan 12]Sailing in Soup at Havana Garage (9:00 pm) (Havana Garage)Sebastian Lane Band w/ Resident Lime & Jocelyn at Reverb (9:00 pm) (Reverb Lounge)

[Sat Jan 13]The Hanyaks – The Corner Bar, Fremont (9:00 pm) (The Corner Bar)

[Sun Jan 14]Kali Indiana – The Corner Bar, Fremont (5:00 pm) (The Corner Bar)

[Thu Jan 18]Hamilton Loomis – Chrome Lounge (6:00 pm) (Chrome Lounge)

[Fri Jan 19]Lucas Minor Band – Corner Bar (8:00 pm)

[Sat Jan 20]Sailing in Soup at Harney Street Tavern (9:00 pm) (Harney Street Tavern)

[Sun Jan 21]Big Daddy Caleb & The Chargers at The Corner Bar (5:00 pm) (Corner Bar)

[Wed Jan 24]James Armstrong at Zoo Bar (6:00 pm) (Zoo Bar)


blues in January & February

Monday, January 1st @ 8:30 pmDOWN UNDER LOUNGE

3530 Leavenworth St. Omaha

Jams Start at 8:30 pm

SEEKING NEW BSO TREASURER, CAN YOU VOLUNTEER???

BSO is seeking a new Treasurer to maintain our finan-cial records and file necessary tax documents. Are you willing to join the dedicated team working to continue the endeavors of BSO? If you are interested or have questions, please contact Assistant Treasurer Terry O’Halloran at [email protected] or President Mark Grubbs at 402-598-8644.

OPEN BLUES JAMSZOO BAR

Mondays @ 7 pm136 N. 14th Street, Lincoln

DOWN UNDER LOUNGEMonday, January 1st @ 8:30 pm35th & Leavenworth, Omaha

RUSTY NAIL PUBThursdays @ 8 pm

143rd & Pacific St., Omaha

[Thu Jan 25]James Armstrong – Chrome Lounge (6:00 pm) (Chrome Lounge)Samantha Fish – Zoo Bar (6:00 pm) (Zoo Bar)

[Sun Jan 28]Normal Blvd – Corner Bar (5:00 pm)

[Wed Jan 31]JJ Grey & Mofro w/ Parker Milsap at Slowdown (8:00 pm) (Slowdown)

[Fri Feb 02]Wayne Baker Brooks – Zoo Bar Lincoln (5:00 pm) (Zoo Bar)

[Tue Feb 06]Crabby Blues Band at Shuck’s (119th & Pacific St.) (6:00 pm) (Shucks)

[Thu Feb 08]Tinsley Ellis – Chrome Lounge (6:00 pm) (Chrome Lounge)

[Fri Feb 09]CIBS 24th Winter Blues Fest at Des Moines Marriott (2:00 am) (Des Moines Downtown Marriott)

[Sat Feb 10]CIBS 24th Winter Blues Fest at Des Moines Marriott (2:00 am) (Des Moines Downtown Marriott)

[Wed Feb 14]Jason Ricci – Zoo Bar Lincoln (6:00 pm) ()

[Thu Feb 15]Jason Ricci – Chrome Lounge (6:00 pm) (Chrome Lounge)

[Sat Feb 17]Blues Project – Zoo Bar Lincoln (6:00 pm) ()

[Thu Feb 22]The Nace Brothers – Chrome Lounge (6:00 pm) (Chrome Lounge)

IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR BANDS AND BARSPlease send your schedules and gigs to this NEW email to be listed in “Blues Notes” and

on omahablues.com website: [email protected]

The former Yahoo email account has been closed.


Hamilton Loomis does indeed go back to basics on his new album “BASICS”, which is his most personal and emotion-al effort to date. Gone are the double entendres for which Loomis is known; this time, his lyrics are direct, personal, and often autobiographical.

The “basics” theme runs through the entire CD, in its lyrics (“Prayer,” “Cloudy Day”), single-chord progressions (“Sugar Baby,” “Looking Into a Dream”), simple melodies (“Come and Get Me”), and stripped-down instrumentation of guitar, bass and drums (“Reason,” “Getting So Big”). Still, Loomis’s trade-mark deep-grooved funk and soulful blues-rock is definitely present.

“I wanted this record to be more stripped-down. Even the CD jacket is black and white and pretty basic itself,” he says of the disc, which features songwriting collabora-tions with Grammy-award winning songwriter/ producer/bassist Tommy Sims, co-writer of Eric Clapton’s “Change the World.”


HAMILTON LOOMIS CD Release Party

Thursday January 18th$15 day of show

Chrome Lounge • 8552 Park Dr, Omaha, NE

Sebastian Lane is a fierce young guitarist whose roots dig deep into music history. He is the grandson of Blues Hall of Fame legend, Jimmy Rogers, who gained prominence

SEBASTIAN LANE BAND with Resident Lime & Jocelyn

Friday January 12th • Reverb Lounge • 6121 Military Ave, Omaha, NE

as the guitarist for Muddy Waters before starting his in-dependent career with Chess Records. Sebastian’s father is blues-rock hall of fame artist Jimmy D. Lane, who has played with the likes of Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Jim Kelt-ner, Keith Richards, B.B. King, Van Morrison, Jonny Lang, Gary Moore, Double Trouble, Taj Mahal, Stephen Stills, Jeff Healey, Lowell Fulson, and Snooky Pryor, Kim Wilson, Pin-etop Perkins, Johnnie Johnson, Kim Wilson, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, David ‘HoneyBoy’ Edwards, Little Hatch, Wil-lie Kent, Henry Gray, Lazy Lester, and of course his father, Jimmy Rogers; just to name a few.

But, the truly fascinating thing about Sebastian Lane is that music is actually just his side hobby. His day job is bal-ancing a future career in medicine. He is currently a third year medical student at The University of Nebraska Medical Center with interests in the surgical field and will graduate with his M.D. in 2019.

Sebastian played for several different artists through-out his career before deciding to focus on his own mu-sic where he now plays with the Sebastian Lane Band. This group is a modern age blues-rock group with the goal of keeping fun live music around and exposing the genre to their peers while playing music that every gen-eration can appreciate. The group features Ben Curran on lead and rhythm guitar, Dain Armbrust on Bass, and Kevin Fries on drums. All of these musicians made their start through the Omaha Blues Society and their pro-gram called Blues Ed. Ben currently studies guitar and was accepted into Berklee College of music. Both Dain and Kevin have made a name for themselves playing for several different Omaha and Lincoln based blues bands over the years.



2017 TOY DRIVE FOR PINE RIDGE


2017 TOY DRIVE FOR PINE RIDGE

We would like to thank the organizations that provided support to the Toy Drive for Pine Ridge this year: 89.7 The River, Liquid Courage Tattoo, Beardmore Chevro-let, Blues Society of Oma-ha, Pacific Street Blues, Pri-mary Purpose Riders, IABC Omaha, Dino’s Storage, Silver Creek Go Getters 4-H Club, and RDO Truck Centers.The Toy Drive was also fortu-nate to receive a PayPal GIVE Team grant this year, so we are grateful for the support from the Omaha PayPal GIVE Team.Thank you to all the musi-cians, venues, volunteers, and, of course, all the indi-viduals who have given their time, toys, and donations to the Toy Drive to keep it going through the years.Thank You to all the BSO members for supporting the Toy Drive fundraiser at Chrome Lounge with dona-tions, food and toys. And a huge Thank You to all the musicians who contributed their time and talent.

Larry Dunn (aka Lash LaRue)


BSO BAND DIRECTORYBand Contact Phone # / EmailCOUNCIL BLUFFSThe Packages..................................................................................Rick Hillyard ...........................................................................................712-420-1232Street Level Band ...........................................................................Steven Rains ...................................................... 402-980-7898 / [email protected]

FREMONTPunching Puppets ...........................................................................Lance Clark ................................................402-727-1999 / [email protected]

HASTINGSPeace Hogs .....................................................................................Rich Mattison ................................................402-469-5818 / [email protected] B. and the XYZ’s ..............................................................Byron Starr .............................................................................................402- 462-5879

KEARNEYKate Fly ...............................................................................................................................................................308-627-3021 / [email protected]

LINCOLNBig Daddy Caleb & The Chargers .................................................Caleb Whisenhunt .................................402-202-9895 / [email protected] Messengers ...........................................................................Jake Wiese ...............................................................................................402-601-4959Church House Blues Band .............................................................Danny Dakan................................................. 402-890-2533 / [email protected] Dust Jackets ............................................................................Travis Koester ....................................................402 560 8415 / www.dustjackets.comJared’s GoodTime BluesParty ........................................................Jared Alberico .........................................................................................402-474-2473John Walker and the New Hokum Boys.........................................John Walker .............................................................................................402-466-7254Josh Hoyer & the Soul Colossal .....................................................Josh Hoyer ............................402-416-3846 / [email protected]. Stephens Blues Project ..............................................................Lary Lehman ........................................................................................1-800-422-1340Levi William ..................................................................................Levi William 402-310-2681, Cindy Patton 402-850-8549 / [email protected] Mezcal Brothers ......................................................................Gerado Meza ...........................................................................................402-438-5120The Tijuana Gigolos .......................................................................Marty Steinhousen ..................................................................................402-742-5892Tim Budig Band ........................................................................................................................................................503-719-3969 / [email protected] Blues Band .......................................................................Caleb Long ..............................................................................................402-430-1792

OMAHA112 North Duck .............................................................................Michelle .......................................................... 402-210-9378 / [email protected] Alley Blues ............................................................................Craig A. Hassa ........................................................................................402-594-9147Banjo Loco .....................................................................................Blind Burrito ...........................................................................................402-850-0245Blue House with the Rent to Own Horns ......................................Joe Putjenter ........................................................402- 658-2222 / [email protected] Blues Angels ..................................................................................A.J. Foyt ..........................................................402-968-5593 / [email protected] Blues Explosion ......................................................................Dave Skinner ...........................................................................................402-330-7366BluesEd ..........................................................................................Jason Groenjes .........................................................................directors@bluesed.comBrad Cordle Band ..........................................................................Brad Cordle ...................................................... 702-533-2427 / [email protected] Brown and the Basement Devils .........................................Chuck Brown ..........................................................................................402-610-1522Drew Jude and the Cool Tones .......................................................Drew Jude ...............................................................................................402-714-1244Elwin James and the Way Outs ......................................................Patrick Peters ..................................................402-292-6435 / [email protected] Walker ................................................................................George Walker .........................................................................................402-871-1469Hector Anchondo Band ..................................................................Hector Anchondo ...................................402-215-3956 / [email protected] Reef & the Shipwrecks ......................................................Tommy Kriegshauser ................................402-517-8248 / [email protected] Kris Lager Band ......................................................................Kris Lager ...............................................................................................402-304-7269Life of Riley ...................................................................................Rebecca Packard ................................................. 402-699-0958 / [email protected] Joe and Big Trouble ..............................................................Little Joe McCarthy ................................................. 402-680-2924 / [email protected] De Luca & the Delta 88’s .......................................................Lou De Luca ...................................................... 402-677-7156 / [email protected] James Band .........................................................................L.J. Johnson ................................................................ 402-213-5234 / [email protected] Matt Gagne Blues Experience ................................................Matt Gagne .............................................................402-212-0694 / [email protected] Mighty Sapphire Kings ...........................................................Bill Ferleman ...........................................................................................402-658-1785Neptunes ........................................................................................John Hartley ................................................................402-995-2926 or 402-391-4762The Omaha Blues Society All-Stars ..............................................Craig Balderston ........................................................ 402-208-1068 / [email protected] Scott Hoagbin Blues Band .....................................................Paul Scott Hoagbin ................................... 402-689-1183 / [email protected] Rex Granite Band....................................................................Kevin Loomis ....................................................... 402-306-9342 / rexgranite@cox,netRhythm Collective Reggae .............................................................Frank Fong ..............................................................................................402-556-3568Rich Patton Blues and more ...........................................................Rich Patton ..................................................402- 841-1110 / [email protected] Mattison and the Peace Hogs .................................................Rich Mattison ..........................................................................................402-469-5818Sailing In Soup ...............................................................................Gunnar Guenette ..................................................................................... 402 599-9255Soulfinger .......................................................................................Barry Clark ...................................................................................... [email protected] Nelson Trio ...........................................................................Mike Nelson ............................................................................................402-612-1250Stephen Monroe .............................................................................Stephen Monroe ......................................................................................402-699-5905Steve Lovett Blues Band AND Steve Lovett-Solo Acoustic Blues .....Steve Lovett ............................................................402-660-7146 / [email protected] Stimulus Packages ..................................................................Rick Hillyard ........................................................................................... 712-420 1232Sue Murray / The WILDFIRE Band ..............................................Sue Murray .................................................. 402-533-4791 / [email protected] Thorne Group ......................................................................Susan Thorne ........................................................................................... 402 968-4991Swampboy Blues Band ..................................................................Tim Koehn .........................................402-830-0021 / [email protected] Shop Radio ..........................................................................K.C. Kelley .............................................................................................319-431-3508Two Blue ........................................................................................A.J. Foyt ..........................................................402-968-5593 / [email protected] ...........................................................................................Charlie Ames ....................................816-678-8360 / [email protected]


1. Andy T. Band Double Strike Old school blues and R&B

A.J.’S TOP FIVE FOR 2017

2. Monster Mike Welch and Mike Ledbetter ~ Right Place, Right Time Chicago blues

3. Kenny Neal Blood Line Traditional blues

4. Rhiannon Giddens Freedom Highway Rootsy blues

5. Kim Wilson Boogie and Blues vol. 1 Covers of blues standards

--A.J. Foyt

Born into a musical family in 1957 in Los Angeles, James Armstrong had blues music in his blood from the very start. His Mom was a blues singer, his Dad played jazz guitar. Armstrong formed his first band in the 7th grade, and by age 17 he was touring the country.

James would start making waves on the local California blues circuit by his 20s, becoming the youngest member of Smokey Wilson’s band. In the 1980s, James was a founding member of the band Mama Roo and received his first recording contract for Crescendo Records.

In the early 90s, James got plenty of exposure from his mu-sical influences, including Albert Collins, and Sam Taylor. Shortly after that, he was discovered and signed by High-Tone Records owner Bruce Bromberg, who had discovered and signed Robert Cray and Joe Louis Walker.

Armstrong was about to tour with his critically acclaimed first album, Sleeping with a Stranger, when tragedy struck. The events surrounding a home invasion left Armstrong without the use of his left hand and arm, including perma-nent nerve damage. This threatened to end his career for-ever; but thanks to the support of friends, fans and the blues community, Armstrong came back two years later with a second album, Dark Night.

What Armstrong lost in the tragedy he gained in “a whole new respect for the music itself, the power in slow blues, how the silences between the notes are as important as the notes.” Armstrong also turned his efforts to perfecting his songwriting, vocal and slide guitar skills, all the while developing his gift for turning hardship into song. The re-

James ArmstrongWednesday January 24th@ 6 pm • Zoo Bar

Thursday January 25th • $10 • Chrome Lounge • 8552 Park Dr, Omaha, NE

sults were a third album, Got It Goin’ On. The CD garnered two Blues Music Award nominations for “best blues gui-tarist” and for “best song of the year” with “Pennies and Picks.”

James was also noticed by the music industry, having songs in three ma-jor motion pictures. “Bank of Love” was used in Hear No Evil, with Mar-tin Sheen and Marlee Matlin. “Two Sides to Every Story” was featured in Speechless with Michael Kea-ton and Geena Davis, and also in

The Florentine with Jeremy Davies and Luke Perry. Over the years, Armstrong has performed in many countries throughout North America, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia and the Middle East. Armstrong has shared the stage with many artists like ‘Keb Mo’, Coco Montoya, Chaka Kahn, Tommy Castro, Shemekia Copeland, Tab Benoit, Charlie Mussel-white, Walter Trout, Doug MacLeod, Roy Brown, Ricky Lee Jones, Jan and Dean, Mitch Mitchell, and many more.

Blues Been Good to Me is his latest release on CatFood Re-cords (October 20, 2017). Armstrong released two prior CDs with CatFood Records: Blues at The Border (2011) and Guitar Angels (2014). Both CDs ranked in the top 40 of the year ratings in Living Blues radio charts.

Armstrong continues to tour extensively. He pays tribute to the past with the traditional blues, and his unique song-writing skills. Using both slide and pick, James’ guitar play-ing is some of the smoothest in the business. James regu-larly brings his vibrant and welcoming live shows to people around the globe.


blues socieTy oF omahaPresident ................Mark Grubbs - [email protected] - 402-598-8644Vice President ............................................. Glenn Bauer - [email protected] ............................................................ Kit Kelley - [email protected] Treasurer ............................. Terry O’Halloran - [email protected] ........................................ Bonnie Mercer - [email protected] Coordinators ......Lisa & Steve Krueger - [email protected] Coordinator ........Sher Newland - [email protected] Coordinator ....................... Vee Andersen - [email protected] Coordinator ..........Annette Jensen - [email protected] Coordinator ...........................................Cinda Tully - [email protected] Lincoln Representative ........................... Jo Kreitman - [email protected]

MemberB E N E F I T S☞ Monthly newsletter☞ Special events, parties☞ 10% off your bill on Mondays at

BAILEY’S BREAKFAST & LUNCH, 1259 S. 120th Street (next door to Bronco’s), Omaha, with your current BSO Donation Card

☞ Special pre-sale and discounted tickets to selected BSO events

…and more

MemberB E N E F I T S

blues noTes ediTorial sTaFF

Editor: NICK SCHULTZ

[email protected]

Contributors:A. J. Foyt, Richard Allen, Terry O’Halloran,

Terry Sedivy, Jay Anderson

FOR BSO USE: Date:__________________ Membership card/s were given Amount paid: ___________ Cash Check Credit Card Membership card/s need mailed

BSO MEMBER DONATION APPLICATION

Join and donate online at www.omahablues.com or mail this form to: Blues Society of Omaha, Inc.

P.O. Box 241698 Omaha, NE 68124

Name ____________________________________________ If this membership is a gift, please check

Address __________________________________________ here and also write your own name, address,

City _____________________ State _______ Zip _________ and phone # on the reverse side. BSO

Phone ____________________________________________ gladly will notify the recipient of your gift.

E-mail ____________________________________________ RENEWAL or BRAND NEW DONOR

General Donor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25 ● Monthly Newsletter – Blues Notes ● 1 Membership Card provides member discounts for 1 person

Family Donor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40 ● Monthly Newsletter – Blues Notes

● 2 Membership Cards provide member discounts for 2 persons

Special Donor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75 ● Monthly Newsletter – Blues Notes

● 2 Membership Cards provide member discounts for 2 persons ● Name Listed in Blues Notes Newsletter

Corporate Donor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125 ● Monthly Newsletter – Blues Notes


Blue Club Donor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250 ● Monthly Newsletter – Blues Notes

● 5 Membership Cards provide member discounts for 5 persons ● Name Listed in Blues Notes Newsletter ● 1st Month Free Business Card Advertisement

YES, GO GREEN! I choose to receive my monthly newsletter by email rather than by U.S. Mail. I understand that BSO's cost to print & mail my newsletter would be $20/year and I want BSO to use the entirety of my membership donation for better purposes in the cause to promote blues music. NO, I prefer to receive my newsletter by U.S. Mail. I understand that BSO's cost to print & mail my newsletter is $20/year. Therefore, I have considered an additional donation so that BSO is able to use more funds for better purposes in the cause to promote blues music. ADDITIONAL DONATION: $ __________ BSO would welcome any additional donation you might care to make towards our ongoing projects including the BluedEd youth program, Nebraska Blues Challenge band competitions, website upgrades, events, and many more.

Thank you for your tax deductible donations. Your generous support will help Keep the Blues Alive !!! A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Corporation Keepin’ the Blues Alive!

FOR BSO USE: Date:__________________ Membership card/s were given Amount paid: ___________ Cash Check Credit Card Membership card/s need mailed

BSO MEMBER DONATION APPLICATION

Join and donate online at www.omahablues.com or mail this form to: Blues Society of Omaha, Inc.

P.O. Box 241698 Omaha, NE 68124

Name ____________________________________________ If this membership is a gift, please check

Address __________________________________________ here and also write your own name, address,

City _____________________ State _______ Zip _________ and phone # on the reverse side. BSO

Phone ____________________________________________ gladly will notify the recipient of your gift.

E-mail ____________________________________________ RENEWAL or BRAND NEW DONOR

General Donor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25 ● Monthly Newsletter – Blues Notes ● 1 Membership Card provides member discounts for 1 person

Family Donor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40 ● Monthly Newsletter – Blues Notes

● 2 Membership Cards provide member discounts for 2 persons

Special Donor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75 ● Monthly Newsletter – Blues Notes


Corporate Donor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125 ● Monthly Newsletter – Blues Notes


Blue Club Donor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250 ● Monthly Newsletter – Blues Notes

● 5 Membership Cards provide member discounts for 5 persons ● Name Listed in Blues Notes Newsletter ● 1st Month Free Business Card Advertisement

YES, GO GREEN! I choose to receive my monthly newsletter by email rather than by U.S. Mail. I understand that BSO's cost to print & mail my newsletter would be $20/year and I want BSO to use the entirety of my membership donation for better purposes in the cause to promote blues music. NO, I prefer to receive my newsletter by U.S. Mail. I understand that BSO's cost to print & mail my newsletter is $20/year. Therefore, I have considered an additional donation so that BSO is able to use more funds for better purposes in the cause to promote blues music. ADDITIONAL DONATION: $ __________ BSO would welcome any additional donation you might care to make towards our ongoing projects including the BluedEd youth program, Nebraska Blues Challenge band competitions, website upgrades, events, and many more.

Thank you for your tax deductible donations. Your generous support will help Keep the Blues Alive !!! A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Corporation Keepin’ the Blues Alive! Keepin’ the Blues Alive!

BANDS AND VENUES…HELP US HELP YOU!!! HELP US PUT MORE BUTTS IN MORE SEATSThe Blues Society of Omaha maintains a powerful calendar of events on its website, omahablues.com. We invite all venue and band managers to take advantage of this free opportunity for promotion. Since we are an all volunteer organization, we ask you to get an account and help us by maintaining your digital space on this calendar.Our calendar has the following features:• A real-time page showing the most timely upcoming events.• A powerful search engine for users to find specific events by name, venue, band, and date.• Events pages that allow rich text, photos, and external links to band site and venue pages. Much of the page is generated automatically from

the venue page. It also makes it easy for use to add events to their calendar and to use a map.• Venue pages that allow contact information and photos, map insets linked to full mapping, and links to external sites.• For bands, we have a band listing page with links to individual band pages. These are full free-form WordPress pages supporting text, graphics

and links.• The site works well on mobile devices like smartphones.If you are interested, please contact Sid Sidner at [email protected] to learn more and to get registered for a free account today.

Musical genres supported by the Blues Society of Omaha on our calendar.Blues • Surf Rock • R & B • Jazz • Rockabilly • Funk • Soul • Roots • Swing • Americana • Rock & Roll • Blue Grass

BSO BOARD OF DIRECTORS:Richard “Dick” Allen ............................................allensphoto@cox.netMary Elofson ........................................................... [email protected] O’Halloran ................................................blueterryo@gmail.comTerry Sedivy ........................................................... [email protected] Walsh .............................................................. [email protected]

THE REX GRANITE BAND SARAH BENCK HAMILTON — … · The Nace Brothers ($10) ... Jody Marker Roger...

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Transcript of THE REX GRANITE BAND SARAH BENCK HAMILTON — … · The Nace Brothers ($10) ... Jody Marker Roger...