BSO Update...Tommy Castro and more!

[tsedivy]

Greetings Blues Fans,



You often hear me say "one of my favorite artists plays Murphy's this week."
There is a good reason for that. I book the bands! And guess what, one of my favorite artists plays Murphy's this week (5:30pm TH 8/9): Hamilton Loomis! This excerpt is taken from a very interesting review by George Graham http://georgegraham.com/reviews/loomis.html
Loomis freely mixes blues with R&B, some soul, and bits of more contemporary sounds like drum loops, on Kickin' It, all the while showing great musicianship, especially on guitar, serving as an appealing and soulful singer, and a songwriter who can come up with great hooks and smart lyrics. While it never wanders too far from the mainstream in blues, Kickin' It is an eclectic and yet very appealing mix that will keep you dancing to the rhythmic grooves while impressing you with the guitar work. In some ways, Hamilton Loomis resembles another Gulf-Coast musician known to mix rock, soul and blues, Delbert McClinton, and his attraction to Memphis soul can also evoke comparisons with Robert Cray.
If you have friends (or children, or parents) that think the Blues is boring, bring them along to see Hamilton Loomis. Cover charge just $8.
That reminds me, a friend of mine told me he watches my calendar and if the show ever costs over ten bucks, he knows it is one he has to see. While I appreciate his faith, I hate to think some of you don't motivate when it is a cheaper show. The ticket price is basically just a reflection of the band's fee, which sometimes isn't reflective of their entertainment value. (I did hear The Blasters were well-worth the $17.50. Unfortunately, myself and a whole bunch of other folks were not able to make it:-( Oh well, if I made money on every show I brought to town, would it really be the Blues?
I did just confirm one of the "sure things" in the Blues booking business: Tommy Castro will play Bar Fly on Sunday, October 7th. (Did I already tell you James Harmon is playing Bar Fly on Sunday, September 9th with The Mark Hummel Band?)
This Friday night at Bar Fly (707 N 114th St., in the space formerly occupied by SHAG) is Song Remains the Same, the great Led Zeppelin Tribute band that has played Murphy's a couple of times. ($5 cover at the door).
Enough about my shows. Lincoln's Son of 76 and The Watchmen play the Goofy Foot tonight. These are some of the guys from Electric Soul Method. Very cool stuff. Catch audio cuts and more here: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=494 37073
The Mercurys will be playing at Atlantis on 120th & Center tonight also. Be warned, or be enthused, they have "dancers" at Atlantis. The Mercurys also play Downtown Blues on Saturday night.
Blue House plays McKenna's on Friday night. If for some strange reason you are a Blues fan in Omaha and have never seen Blue House, you can listen to their CD and buy it here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/bhouse
Forty Twenty plays the Waiting Room in Benson Friday night. "With slogans like, "Purveyors of Fine Music," and "So Country, It'll Make You Puke," FortyTwenty is a little bit old-school country and a whole lot of energy, blended together with onstage antics that have helped the cowbilly quintet put its alternative honky-tonk stamp on juke joints, saloons, rock venues and dancehalls throughout the midwest and south." If they don't put a smile on your face, just put a fork in ya, because you are done.
The deservedly popular Chris Cain brings his Jazzy Blues sound to the Zoo Bar Friday night while the nuclear polka party rock of Denton Texas' Brave Combo will have the Zoo rockin' on Saturday night.
If the weather is decent, Anchor Inn on Sunday at 4pm should be a great time with Little Joe and Big Trouble.

Got this note from the OK Sisters:

Hey OK Sisters Fans,

The OK Sisters Band is pleased to welcome Mike Sciachitano lead guitarist to our band. He will be debuting with us in Kearney Friday, August 10th at Cunningham's Journal. Show starts at 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. We'll be jammin' out back in The Courtyard. Come out early for good seats!!

See you Friday!

Kate, Karen, Steve, Marty, Mike - OKSB

Encore performances of Zoo Bar Blues and Zoo Bar Backstage Pass programs can be seen Friday nights at 8 p.m. on Cox Cable 17 and Qwest Cable 74 (The Knowledge Network). August 10th is Big John Dickerson, August 17th is Kelley Hunt, August 24th is Billy Bacon, August 31st is Kenny Neal, and Charlie Musselwhite on September 7th.






Mick's has great music almost every night of the week, but this double-bill is sure to please Blues fans:
Tuesday August 14, 9:00pm, $5
HAYWARD WILLIAMS — "Everything you could hope for: message, melody, and hooks."—Vital Source
Imagine the honeyed side of Ryan Adams, Jay Farrar's earthy grit, the playfulness of Sam Cooke. Built on a foundation of folk, blues, and soul, Hayward's songs in display the raw intensity common to these forms, tempered by his own easy self-possession and wry charm.
JOSH HARTY — “Josh Harty is one of the best young talents I have heard in years,” says Bob Reha of Minnesota Public Radio after hearing Josh open for B.B King in Fargo, North Dakota. Josh’s performance impressed regional promoters and led to opening performances with Robert Cray, Roger McGuinn (of the Byrds), Keb Mo, and several engagements with Kelly Joe Phelps.



Tickets for the Friday, August 31st Blues Cruise featuring Jimmy Thackery, Trampled Under Foot, and The Mezcal Brothers are on-sale now at Bar Fly, The Lift, McKenna's, and Murphy's. (damn, that is quite a line-up) It is the usual deal: $25 each for the general public, BSO Members can buy up to two at $20 each. I believe cruising starts about 9pm. Sedivy will get me the exact time before next week's email, I am sure:-) By the way, another great job of booking by Terry Sedivy on this cruise. That boy does his homework!!!
The Yardbirds headline Playing with Fire on Saturday August 18th, so get your Blues indoors this weekend and get ready for another great time on the riverfront!
Terry O'Halloran
BSO Prez and emailer