Daaaayum!  I really needed to get that out. 

For those of you who have been at the Outlook lately, you know we’ve been experiencing enchanting musical surprises and exciting guests, one on top of another.  It’s been really great!

Last Friday Eddie Turner threw down!  He’s an exceedingly riveting performer and electrified us all.  Turner plays with such graceful sophistication that one could enjoy watching him from a soundproof booth, without hearing a note.  Mind you, it wouldn’t be as fine, but it would still be stirring. 

Toward the end of his first set, Eddie graciously called the Birdie to the stage for her swan song at the Outlook (at least for this trip; she’ll be back).  Pamela “Birdie” Falcon tore it up with Eddie, and he seemed to have a pretty good time with her vocals.  There were certainly big smiles all around.  Thank you again, Eddie.  Graceful, sophisticated, elegant, and gracious.  You personify each of those adjectives.  Can’t wait to have you back.

I heard the Ricky Earl Band put on quite a show Saturday night, but some Blues Broad had me stuck having fun in EstesPark, so I missed the gig.  I heard it was fun.

Last night.  Where to start?  Well, those of you not heeding my warning about Kelly Richey might as well stop reading right now.  I’m serious!  If you missed the gig and continue reading, a very somber and regretful mood will overtake your day.  You won’t recover.

Where was I?  Oh yeah, Kelly.  I’ve written a lot about Kelly over the last year or so, and now I’ll let you hear from considerable blues fan, Chick Cavallero.  Here’s part of an email I received from him this morning:   “Great show last night. Damn, Kelly Richey is amazing, what a guitar player!!!! Up there with Jimmy Thackery, Bonamassa, Trout, Margolin, Castro...as good as anybody.”

There.   Now you’ve heard it from Chick.  It was his first time (live, anyway), and he’s now on the other side of knowledge.  Welcome aboard, Chick!

Kelly and her guys took the stage to a standing-room-only, excited, curious crowd.  The screaming began about 30-seconds later (and no, it wasn’t only me!).  She earned the respect of a heavy-duty blues audience, many of whom, like Chick, have seen and heard the best.  And this crowd gave her not one, but three standing ovations, one after EACH set, and another after the encore (she tried to get off stage, but I body blocked her).

She’ll be back for another CD Release Party with us on Friday the 13^th of June.  All you have to do to indemnify any superstitious bad luck associated with that day is show up at the Outlook that night.  Get there early, because if she can pack a Tuesday house, the room’s gonna’ be vibrating on that Friday.   Congratulations Kelly on the wonderful new CD, Carry the Light.  See you in about three weeks!

John Alex Mason.  I’ve only had the pleasure of hearing him once, but that was enough for me to crawl through glass if need be to hear him again.   You know what?  Don’t listen to me, listen to him.  http://www.johnalexmason.com/  See you Friday.

Sammy Dee is back on Saturday.  Does anyone else notice how guitar-heavy we’ve been lately?  Lovin’ it!  Also loving that we have such amazing talent within spitting distance in any direction.  We are very lucky. 

                           Gettin Down With Eddie