Gretchen Troop, Al Chesis, Jill Watkins, Erica Brown, Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin, Kyle Roberts, and Jonn Richardson.  Photo by Honey Sepeda
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TO BOB, WITH LOVE

 

When it comes to summarizing the staggering musical events hastened by the appearance of Steady Rollin’ this past weekend, I know when it’s time to step aside and let those most intimately involved with the weekend’s magic take over.  So in a flash of inspiration (translation:  laziness), I came upon the idea of having the weekend’s guest musicians give us their outlook (ha, ha, ha! Damn, I’m clever), on playing with Steady Rollin’.  After patting myself on the back for getting others to do my work this week, I sent out an email to all of those for whom I had an address, effusively requesting their reflections.  As if the exceptional, explosive, and soul-fulfilling music wasn’t way more than any of us expected, riding that musical comet’s tail is, as William Wordsworth would say, “Great emotion recollected in tranquility.”  Not only were they all inspired on the stage, they are still clearly inspired in their souls.  Do I exaggerate?  Read for yourselves. 

In order in which they were received, here are what some of our neighborhood musical heavies have to say about spending stage time with Bob:

Jill Watkins (George Whitesell and his All Stars Featuring Jill Watkins):

Man oh Man, what a night!  Bob Margolin with Al Chesis and the Delta Sonics is always an amazing show.  But, Saturday night seemed more magical to me than ever!  There was a recycling of energy in the room that night. We could feel it building on itself.  The admiration from the audience was absolutely palpable.  Relishing every note, hearing Bob's playing makes me feel like I'm witnessing an amalgamation of masters.  You hear Muddy, of course, but others are there too.  How many great players has Bob played with?  It's like he took the best from them all and allowed each to step up from the shadows, play a solo and turn a phrase.  Al's emotive harmonica playing is a perfect combination with Bob's confident, sometimes silly, but always strong performance.  I was so grateful to be at the Boulder Outlook that night!!  Then, for the second set, Bob and Al graciously opened the stage to some of the musicians they knew were in the
room.  What a treat!  I was more than happy just to watch the show.  But I was THRILLED to be allowed up on stage and sing with George Whitesell.  We sang our duet, "I Want to Know" which was an R&B hit for Sugar Pie DeSanto in 1959.  George and I are very blessed to have a recording of Bob playing this song with us on our latest CD SKAT. It was a ton of fun singing with him outside the studio!!  Toward the end of the night, he allowed some of us on stage again to sing backup for him.  Gretchen Troop
(www.gretchentroop.com), Erica Brown (www.ericabrownband.com) and I (www.jillwatkins.com) were on stage together singing in harmony for the master!

Thank you, Bob, for sharing your talent and for sharing your stage.  What a gracious host and a generous soul!  I can't wait to see and hear you play again!  Much Love! Jill

George Whitesell (George Whitesell and his All Stars Featuring Jill Watkins):

The Boulder Outlook is a bit of a drive from Colorado Springs, so unfortunately I do not get to attend as many shows there as I would like. Being music promoters in Colorado Springs, my wife, Amy, and I have had the pleasure to have Bob Margolin and Al Chesis perform four times over the past couple of years at shows we've booked. But, we've been yearning to see Bob with the Delta Sonics at the Boulder Outlook for quite some time. This past weekend the timing was perfect! After Thursday night's performance in Colorado Springs, I mentioned to Bob that we were thinking about coming up on Saturday night. When Bob told me he'd like to have me sit in, that's all I needed to hear! 

The room was already crowded when we walked in at 7:15 and the excitement was contagious. Most of the patrons were at previous shows that Bob had done in the room and knew what to expect. Before long Bob took the stage with the Delta Sonics and from the first song I knew why the excitement was so overwhelming. Bob was comfortable with the room, the Delta Sonics and with HIS audience. When in that comfort zone that all musicians desire, yet rarely are presented with, the performance takes on a life of its own. You're flying on automatic pilot at the speed of sound. The sonic boom is there, yours for the taking!

Bob's first set was on fire. I've seen Bob Margolin perform numerous times over the years at Blues festivals and club dates with Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and Pinetop Perkins, yet Saturday night he performed with a fire so intense that the audience fed him continued thankful applause to help feed that fire and make it burn even more intensely than one could imagine. We all knew we were in for a night to be remembered.

The first set was over before we knew it. Bob wanted to allow time to share this special opportunity with the many friends in the audience that he wanted to bring on stage. Another artist might have been selfish and decided that this was too good a night to share with anyone else, but not Bob Margolin. I have come to know this man very well over the past few years and realize that he "sets the bar" for other entertainers by being a shining example for us all. I was pleased to be able to get on stage with Bob Margolin and the Delta Sonics and even more honored that Jill Watkins and I were the first people called from the audience.

Thank you Bob, for all your generosity, kindness and friendship.  Thank you Dan King, for giving Colorado the absolute BEST blues club. Period. Thank you Honey Sepeda, for your burning desire to keep it all going and make it happen.  Thank you Al Chesis and the Delta Sonics for being the right band for Bob Margolin. George Whitesell

Jenn Cleary (Jenn Cleary Band)

Wow, what a tremendous night.  I walk in and the room is a bustle with lots of folks eager to hear the one and only Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin.  And, as I look around I see many of the familiar faces that have now become community and diehard blues fans here at the Outlook.  Not only filled with great music appreciators, but the room was also full of appreciative musicians.  When the musicians are showing up to watch, you know the show is gonna be good!  The Delta Sonics is a perfect group to be behind Bob, and I actually told Al Chesis that this was the best that I had ever seen him perform.  Not that I am some expert on Al’s performances, or anything, but he was awesome on the harp Friday night!  The first set rocked with good ol’ Chicago style blues tunes and then when Lionel Young joined the stage, the spontaneous dynamic downright stirred my soul!  Bob was kind enough to invite me to join the fun and I could not pass up another opportunity to share the stage with THE man.  He indulged me by encouraging me to sing one of my original tunes, “Peace In Our World,” and then we lightened up and got playful with Love Me Like A Man.   

Thanks once again to The Outlook, Dan, Honey, Jean and the rest of the wonderful staff for hosting another unique evening of straight all and out blues!  Jenn Cleary

Lionel Young (Memphis.  Need I say more?)

I really enjoyed sitting in with Bob last weekend. One really cool thing was doing four acoustic songs on KGNU radio. It really gave me a chance to hear how versatile he is as a musician. Even though I could tell Bob was a little rushed and on a tight schedule, I saw that he gave his best for the music, and that's probably a habit from years of playing at a high level no matter what the circumstance. Bob has a real strong internal rhythm and an adventurous spirit when he's playing. You can tell he's paid his dues and has worked really hard in the past until he got it right on, and then he has fun with it. It's like he took all the good stuff, broke it down and figured out not just how to do it, but also the why and when to use it and made it his own. He plays with feeling. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, he's probably the only person I've heard that feels like Muddy when you hear him play guitar, especially with the slide. That was the first thing I noticed when I first heard him in Memphis. It may have been the only blues I heard down there that had the strength of integrity. He's also a master of many styles besides slide in the style of Muddy or Earl Hooker. Those of you who heard him play should consider yourselves lucky. Fortunately, he's still coming here playin' for us.  Lionel Young

Erica Brown(Erica Brown Band, or as well all know her, The Delicious Ms. Brown)

Wow…where to start??  Firstly, I think Ms. Honey Sepeda did such a good job of promoting these dates for Bob that everybody wanted to see what all the hype was about, and turned out in record numbers!  And, of course, Bob didn’t disappoint!!  By the time of the downbeat for the first set, the place was sizzling with energy already from the amazing food (oh goodness, Patrick’s RIBS!!!) and anticipation of a great show.  By the time I wound up on stage, I had seen enough good blues to last the rest of the evening!  But still, the vibe didn’t dissipate, and in fact, kicked up another notch!!  Al Chesis and ”Easy” Bill Towber were on fire for our song, Muddy’s  “Tell Me Why”, and together we all just knocked it out of the ballpark!  So, Bob then invites vocalists Jill Watkins and Gretchen Troop up and we blast off into some RAY CHARLES!! (we got to be the “Bobettes!!”) And of course, I cannot forget Guest Guitarist Jonn Richardson, from Diunna Greenleaf’s Blue Mercy Band!! What a singer and player!! Does it get any better than this??  I think not!!  Dan King has created an Oasis of Blues in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and we all love him for it!!   Let’s do it again!!...E

Al Chesis (Delta Sonics)

It's always a special honor to get to play the deep blues I love with Steady Rollin'. I look forward to his bi-annual trips here, and especially dig the musical chemistry we've developed playing together the last few years.  The musicians sitting in and listening "upped my game" and it was a pleasure hearing and having up Lionel Young (don't know if he'll be local for long), Erica Brown, Jill Watkins and George Whitesell, Easy Bill, Teresa Lynn, Jenn Cleary, Gretchen Troup, Paul Soderman and Jonn Richardson from Houston. I know the audience and the folks at the Outlook had a great time too. Dan King, with the help of Honey and the great audiences, has built something special at the Boulder Outlook. It feels so good to have another real blues club in the Denver/Boulder metro area. It's been awhile.Thanks to you all.  Al Chesis

Teresa Lynne (Mistress of the Blues)

Playing Harmonica and singing with Bob Margolin was one of the bigger highlights in my blues life.  The whole band was really great!  Good Job Delta Sonics!!!  All the people who sat in with Bob were stellar!!!  It's good shows like Saturday night at the Boulder Outlook that keep me living the blues! Teresa Lynne

And finally, from the Master himself:

Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin (Prodigal Son of the Outlook):

I've always enjoyed playing at the Boulder Outlook for the receptive, inspiring audience, Al Chesis & The Delta Sonics' responsive playing, and of course Dan's friendly hospitality. If I lived at the hotel, I'd never go out. But the opportunity to have so many fine musicians sit in is special fun -- every one of them threw down and I had to do my best. Push me! Bob Margolin

MEMO TO DAN

Dear Dan:

Wow, what a sensational weekend of music!  Things always get crazy when Bob comes to town, but this was outside of anyone’s norm. 

That said, having Steady Rollin’ only two or three times annually simply isn’t enough.  I was thinking maybe the third weekend of every month.  Your thoughts?

Excitedly yours,

Honey

Dear Honey:

I'm not sure I can handle it.  Still recovering from Saturday Night.  It was unbelievable!

Dan

Very sad news for the blues world:  Sean Costello, April 16, 1979 – April 15, 2008:  At press time, details regarding his death were not forthcoming.  He would have been 29 today. 

http://www.myspace.com/seancostello

Dan King and Bob Margolin - Photo Courtesy of JR Wolfe            

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