First of all, I’ve captioned the above photo, Honey in a Handsome Sandwich With a Side of Unmitigated Cool.  Seriously, what other caption could effectively describe that photo?  Before I continue, I should advise that anyone not a rabid fan of Jason Ricci and New Blood might as well stop reading right now.  And then go look in a mirror and ask your reflection, "What in the hell’s wrong with you?"   

 
Back to that outbreak.  Boulder underwent an unprecedented epidemic of JRS over the weekend, with an approximate total of 140 people in critical condition, many being first-time patients of the syndrome.  Given my personal acquaintance with and fluency in this syndrome, I feared the worst when, at only 6:45 p.m., I entered to an already half-full house for an 8:00 p.m. show (I actually had to pull rank just to get a seat up front!  ME!  You cannot imagine the indignity).  A quick reconnaissance indicated that at least some of the house didn’t comprehend what was getting ready to happen to them; they didn’t have that impatient, jittery, anxious edge so identifiable in those having prior experience with the contagion.   The wait staff, however, did; they knew what was coming, and they were afraid.  Why?  Well, as Kierkegaard opined, “Geniuses are like thunderstorms. They go against the wind, terrify people, cleanse the air.”  The Outlook air is cleansed.

 
And these men are geniuses.  I’ve posted this link before of the first review I wrote on this notable band, and here it is again: http://bouldershomeoftheblues.com/News10.html

 
Saturday night, the Idus Martiae, was my seventh bout of JRS.  It’s a lucky number anyway, but I was born on the 27^th (Dec.), at 7lbs. 7 oz., and 17 inches (haven’t grown much since), so come on, it’s clearly my number.  And the seventh was the sweetest, and with all due respect to Kierkegaard, I’m not so sure if they cleansed the air as much as they electrified it.  They were, simply put, perfection; individually and in tandem.  Perfection. 

 
Buckweed.  Todd Edmonds.  Weed.  For those of our long-term subscribers, it’s universally understood that I’m a fool for a great guitarist; my first huge crush came when I was but five, listening to one of my father’s favorites.  José Feliciano.  Just typing his name and my heart skips a beat.  My father had to give me the album covers with his photos for my room; oh, the benefit of hindsight.  I should have known then guitarists were going to be a problem for me.   But I digress.  Over the course of the past year in which I’ve been working with Dan, I’ve become a bit of bass fool.  It started with John Butler of the Delta Sonics.  Alvin Youngblood Hart’s bass player is also tremendously fun to watch.  Tommy Shannon can fascinate for hours.  Brian Gordon with the Lionel Young Band is as good as they get, with an infectious groove that is jaw-dropping.  Literally.  Dan watched my face the first time I heard one of Brian’s solos, and said to me, “I told you so!”

 
However, like any mother with several children, one doesn’t want to admit to a favorite, but often there is one.  Buckweed is my special child.   I love watching and hearing him play.  And I mean I really love it.   His solos are transformative, otherworldly, and the fact that the other night the music had to be cut in the middle of a Weed solo was exasperating!  Ok, it was late, but as Weed himself said to me, “Why is it always in the middle of the bass solo?”  Don’t worry, Weed, I won’t let it happen again.  But please do me a favor, and no more shooting arrows from the rafters!  I worry.

 
Now, please everyone, do not mention this to the other kids; I really don’t want to have to have that I-love-you-equally-but-differently conversation.  It’s so, well, awkward.  Plus, there is no rationale in them knowing I harbor favoritism.  It’s just not healthy. 

 
Before I move on, Jason mentioned the medical and financial plight of Candye Kane, a true blues legend who’s in a very daunting position and needs our help.  She’s been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but doesn’t have health insurance.  My understanding is the obstacle between life and death rests in funds.  Here is her paypal information.  As Jason reminded us all, most musicians don’t have health insurance.  Let’s do what we can for Candye.  http://www.candyekane.com/news.html#cancer

 
We’ve got Sammy Dee this Thursday night, and then Saturday night it’s Teresa Lynne, and with press like the following, there’s no keeping me away from her.  See you then. 

 
The Monterey Bay Blues Festival wrote:  “Denver based singer songwriter Teresa Lynne has been called the "last Red Hot Mama" for her Etta James-style roadhouse blues, not to mention her gender-defying mastery of the harmonica. A Louisiana native, 20 years ago Lynne settled in Denver where she became a local favorite. Traveling with her kickin' blues band MBBF music lovers are about to discover one of the Rockies' best-kept secrets.

 
Now, if you will indulge me this week, I have a series of memos I need to get out. 

 
Memo to Pam and Al Bricker:

 Dear Pam and Al,

 First, very nice getting to spend some time with both of you Saturday night.  Second, please remember that you want to see about booking JR&NB for Greeley next year.  In case I haven’t mentioned it to you, I’m a bit of a fan of theirs.    I look forward to seeing you again soon.  Are you coming to hear Steady Rollin’?

Affectionately,

Honey

Memo to Jason:

 Dear Jason,

 I always think of you when this quote pops in my mind.  It speaks to a conversation we had last fall at The Little Bear, about the music world not knowing what to do with JR&NB:  Oliver Wendell Holmes solves that mystery:  “The world is always ready to receive talent with open arms. Very often it does not know what to do with genius.”

See you soon,

Honey

 
MEMO TO DAN

 Dear Dan,

 I’m very seriously considering joining Jason, Shawn, Weed, and Ron on the road for a few weeks.  Do you think you could handle the Blues Letter while I’m gone?  Oh, but please don’t mention this to Jason yet.  It’s a surprise.

Sincerely yours,

Honey

Dear Honey,

 
Great idea.  Looks like they are headed to Mobile, Alabama next.  I'll take my motorcycle, so I will just look for you there.

 
Out the door now,

 
Dan

Memo to all: 

 This is from our good Friend, John Catt:

 
The Grand CountyBlues Society Presents "Blues From The Top"

Saturday:  The Runaways,  Soulmate, John Alex Mason, Eden Brent, Bob
Margolin, Delta Sonics, Jimmy Thackery, Johnny Winter

Sunday: Zak Harmon, Jason Ricci and New Blood, Larry Garner, Deanna Bogart, Jimmy Hall with Tommy Shannon, George Rains, Ronnie Fruge'  Joe Bonamassa

June 28th June 29th    10am to 7pm    Hideaway Park , Winter Park Colorado
28$ adv   $32 Day of Show    You can buy $20 tickets April 1st to May 1;  We have a two day price too, $46 adv.    www.grandblues.org

One Last Note: 

Be sure to check out BluesWax this Thursday as Art Tipaldi has a piece on the Grand County Blues Society's Blues in the School, focusing on their award-winning and nationally-nominated program, Check Out The Music, as well as my personal favorite, Blue Star Connection. 

Honey Sepeda