EBB opened the competition with a tight set.  They were ready and Erica was fully charged.   All their years of experience were evident, and the audience and judges were treated to first-class professionalism.   It was difficult to imagine any band following would give them too much woe.  Then Mojambus hit the stage.

As it turns out, neither Dan nor I had seen Mojambus before, so we were curious.  Wow!  I’ll state emphatically that I can’t wait to see an entire show with these old school blues masters.  They tore it up, and many thought it was both bands’ to have.  It was a tight competition, the best kind.  In the end, the judges decided The Erica Brown Band will go to Memphis, but Mojambus ended up with a lot of new fans and a whole lot respect from us. 

We’ve covered EBB here before, so let me tell you a little about Mojambus.  Ok, first, let me tell you about my friend, Amy.  Amy goes to a lot of blues shows with me (she’s a novice, but she’s learning).  A few weeks ago, in a nasty dog-park-related incident, Amy dislocated her right knee, and it’s apparently kind of uncomfortable.  As such, when she gets to Skinny Jay’s, she puts her damaged leg on a chair for protection.  But no one told Jason Downing (harp/vocals).  

Downing has an immeasurable and uncontainable energy level; he’s EVERYWHERE.  Including a little too close to Amy’s protection chair (I am still astonished at how big her eyes can get).  He was close.  And she was afraid.  He managed to miss the chair and the wounded knee but he was close enough to keep her scrutinizing his every move for the rest of the set.

Downing’s talent is palpable as is the vigor with which he approaches performing, but for the unsuspecting audience, look out and get out of the way!  He’s a man with a musical mission, and he won’t be hindered. 

The band is fantastic!  The guitarist, Jasco, is one of the most elegant and graceful players I’ve encountered, and a soothing balance to Downing’s frenetic energy.  They complement each other agreeably.

The rhythm section, with Greg Gladman on bass and Mike Ray on drums, know their stuff, and can more than hold their own with Downing and Jasco.   Mojambus will be back at the Outlook on January 19, and I urge you to mark your calendars.  I’ll be there, probably with Amy, who will be the one surrounded by barbed-wire.  Even in her fear, she can’t wait to see an entire show. They are a tremendous blues band who should be experienced by all fans of live music. 

We had a good night Saturday with the Delta Sonics.  Jerry Deall sat in with the boys, hitting the harp so Al Chesis could spend a little time on some guitar strings.  Margolin needs to watch his back!   But because I screwed up some of the photographs, Jerry’s going to have to come back for the Delta Sonics’ next Outlook gig, 12/27 (my birthday!), sit in again, and let me capture it properly.  Sorry Jerry.

Rex Peoples and the X Factor are playing on Friday, 11/16.  I’ve not heard them before either, but Rex and I got to hang out for a while at the Greeley Blues Festival, and if he plays anywhere near as well as he charms, we’re in for a treat. 

Then, on Saturday night, 11/17, the Erica Brown Band is back for two full sets, fresh on the reminiscence of triumph.   Come down and help get the band charged up for their late January, early February performance at the 24^th annual International Blues Challenge.  Erica always gets the crowd in a frenzy, so join us for the vigorous fun. 

As for the terrific review Dan King wrote about Rocket Number 9, the New CD from Jason Ricci and New Blood, I have but one thing to add:  If you can listen to this CD and remain still, you need to call 911 and ask yourself if you smell burning toast, because you are clearly having a stroke!