What a weekend.   Beginning on Thursday night with the Delta Sonics and concluding Sunday night with the Memphis party, the Outlook’s Skinny Jay’s was seriously jammin’, with a healthy mixture of familiar faces and the newer variety, both on the stage and off, for four consecutive evenings.   

Let’s go backwards, beginning with Sunday night.  By the time you receive this, Lionel Young and the Erica Brown Band will be winging their way to Memphis on the massive currents of love showered on them at their farewell send off and fund-raiser.  Honestly, that crowd could have gotten them to Memphis without benefit of a plane:  we could have floated them all there.  The torrent of support was palpable, and if ever there were musicians primed, pumped, and ready, it’s the six of them.   I’m not so sure Memphis is ready.

Lionel opened with a long set with all of his extraordinary gifts in full evidence, with that voice packing an unlikely power that filled the room with ease.  Would it be disrespectful to refer to such a talented, hardworking, professional man as “adorable?”  I mean, I intend no disrespect, but he really is.  My friend Amy got there in time for the final few numbers from his set, and upon hearing him for the first time, she leaned over and said, “He’s adorable.”  So you see, it’s not just me!   I’m sure Memphis will find him a talented force with which to be reckoned, as he truly is, but I’m also sure they won’t be able to help notice his adorableness.  I don’t want to belabor the point, I’m just saying. 

Anyway.  So then, the Erica Brown Band took over and joyful insanity ensued (as it often does when they perform).   I once likened Erica to a cordless appliance with the stage being her charger.  Well, apparently, when no one was looking, Dan installed a turbo charger, and Erica absorbed all the power.  I’m surprised we’re not still talking about the Boulder Brownout of January 2008 (get that?  “Brown” out, ha, ha, ha!  OK, corny, I know, but it’s still funny). 

They were all on fire, primed and ready with tangible passions hovering over the room, and when Lionel joined the EBB during their second set, it was…well, like I said, I don’t think Memphis is ready.   They brought the house down!  They also got a little bawdy.

None of us can predict what’s going to happen in the State of Tennessee this weekend, but I can assure you that no act has been sent off with more love, admiration, optimism, and best wishes than we all conveyed at the Outlook on Sunday night for the Prides of the Colorado Blues Society.  If the IBC awards points for local pride, Lionel and the EBB have already won.  Congratulations! 

We’d also like to thank Rockin’ Robin Abb again for organizing and handling the silent auction.  She’s got a FANTASTIC shop in Niwot, Rockin’ Robin’s Retro and Resale, and she hooked Erica up with some great stage gowns for Memphis.  Speaking of which, Erica will be blogging from Memphis, so hit her site for updates. 

But before Sunday, there was Saturday, and George Whitesell and his All Stars featuring Jill Watkins.  Jill has graced our stage a number of times, but to have her with her seven boys was a sweet and emotional time for pretty much everyone involved.  But no one more so than Jill.  Some very special people in her life came to surprise her, starting with her brother, who brought along Jill’s delightful five-year-old niece.  For Jill’s sake, we should all be glad for waterproof mascara, as so many came out to show her and the boys some love, that she had a few “moments.”  The outpouring overwhelmed her, almost as much as she overwhelmed the audience.   

The boys opened with a few rousing numbers, and the sax section jump-started all of us with a wall of sound.  This band isn’t a touring or gigging ensemble, per se, but prefer special occasions and events.  Beginning in June of 2006, George and his All Stars are the manifestation of George’s dream to create the perfect band, with the sultry Ms. Watkins lending a nostalgic glance to a time when glamorous women in gowns and gloves, seduced entire audiences with the power and sensuality of a beautiful voice and a well-swung hip.  She was born in the wrong decade. 

These artists are master at jump, swing, R&B, and of course, The Blues.  In July of 2007, they released their first CD, Skat, on Circle 504 Records, to rave reviews and lots of airplay.  Produced by Chicago session man and renowned solo artist, Ken Saydak, and including some guitar work by legendary Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin, this is a must-have for blues fans.   George Whitesell and His All Stars featuring Jill Watkins is inarguably one of the best show bands you’ll ever experience.  Get the CD and go see a show.  I’m sure they’ll be back at the Outlook, and we’ll certainly let you know when. 

Lionel had a couple of great sets on Friday night, gearing up for the Sunday celebration and ultimately for Memphis.  I was still getting over my Johnny O. cold, so I’m still kind of foggy on the evening, but it was fun, and Lionel is truly a fan favorite.  Can’t wait to welcome him home on Sunday, 2/10 for his blues jam with Mark Diamond.

Speaking of fan favorites, another one, Tempa, of Tempa and the Tantrums is in a rough spot.  Medical circumstances have kept her from working for some time, and her medical bills and treatment expenses have gotten beyond her.  Fortunately, we at the Outlook have NO problem passing a hat and asking all of our fellow blues lovers to give some assistance to someone who has performed at more than her share of fund-raisers to help others.  Now she’s got to sit back and let us do it for her, something that’s pretty difficult for our Tempa.  We’re organizing some things now, but in the meantime, we’ll have something set up beginning Thursday evening with the Joseph Barton Trio (Tempa’s husband) so people can help in anyway they can.  By Saturday night with the Johnny O. Band, I promise I’ll have this more organized, but for now medicine needs to be purchased, so we’ll worry about fussy details later.  Please come down this weekend and listen to great music and drop a few dollars in the hat.  The sooner we get Tempa better, the quicker she’ll be back on stage where she belongs.

One of the great bands you can hear at the Outlook this weekend is Thousands of One, a hip band out of Ithaca, New York, this Friday night, and here’s what The Ithaca Times has to say: "This is spiritual, Afrocentric funk-soul-reggae hip-hop hybrid... organic and involved... positive."  Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly intrigued.  And then there’s this from their site: Gaining notoriety for their spirited live shows throughout the northeast, Thousands of One jumps from activist/retro soul - think Olu Dara or Marvin Gaye - to cross Atlantic afrobeat/funk experiments as in Fela Kuti meets James Brown- to underground Hiphop a la The Roots or Talib Kweli with a funk rock edge.  Curious yet?  So am I.  I’ll see you there.

Now that my cold has pretty much subsided, I’ll be listening to the Johnny O. Band on Saturday night instead of heckling Johnny for giving me the damn cold in the first place.  I’ve also decided to bring a pair of truly memorable stockings out of partial retirement for the evening.  Now, let’s hope the weather cooperates. 

Honey Sepeda