Letter from the Prez

[tsedivy]

Greetings Blues fans,

We are once again creeping back up to our membership level of 1,000 members. Thanks to the efforts of our Membership Lackeys Dan Griffin and Greg Nichols, and several other BSO Volunteers like our Lincoln Rep Moe Jasinski and our merchandise team of Ric and Jane Cowger, and our treasurer Bill Martin. (If you want to join or renew, visit www.OmahaBlues.com)

I think there is an outside Blues event every weekend this summer. The next three are:

Friday, June 1st, Buddy Guy and Eric Johnson at Stir Concert Cove at Harrah's in CB, IA. "Any discussion of Buddy Guy invariably involves a recitation of his colossal musical resume and hard-earned accolades. He's a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a chief guitar influence to rock titans like Hendrix, Clapton, Beck and Vaughan, a pioneer of Chicago's fabled West Side sound, and a living link to that city's halcyon days of electric blues."
The NY Times had this praise for Eric Johnson: "One only can be regarded as a stellar guitar talent when the likes of Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Buddy Guy all number as fans and supporters. Though not bearing the same high profile name recognition as those players, Austin's Eric Johnson is on the same short list of guitar icons as those prestigious gents."
Saturday, June 9th, Ben Harper at Stir Concert Cove at Harrah's in CB, IA. (This will be great. More details next week).
Sunday, June 10th, BSO's Free Family Festival at Anchor Inn. This great family event goes from 3pm to at least 9pm and will feature New Orleans Blues Harmonica wiz Jason Ricci, plus performances by St. Elvis and all of the Blues Ed Kid's Bands, plus Lincoln young guitar stud Levi William.
As always, FFF offers free pop, hot dogs, and treats for the kids, plus face-painting, water-balloon toss, and other games. So... bring the whole family for fun on the riverfront.
We do need donations for our raffle at FFF. Please email me at Terry@MurphysOmaha.com if you have something to donate.
Murphy's continues their Thursday Blues Matinee all summer. Thursday, May 31st will feature 2003 Bluewax Artist of the Year, Anthony Gomes. BlueWaveBlog calls him "one of the greatest guitar players on earth" and "future Grammy-winner." Cover charge of $10., Showtime 5:30pm.
One of the Zoo Bar's new favorite sons, The Weary Boys, play there Thursday at 6pm and Friday at 9pm (they play The Waiting Room in Benson on Saturday night). "...the five-piece band from Austin, Texas, plays country, blues, bluegrass, vintage rock 'n' roll and Cajun music as if they grew up playing it on the back porch, at the barn dance, in the roadhouses and on the street corner."
Get out and get into it.
Terry O'Halloran
Blues Society of Omaha Prez and emailer