Hello Everyone, I will be posting about Blues Fest next week, meanwhile come join Phil and I at Rosa’s Lounge this June 13th & June 14th!

Sean Costello performing Hard Luck Woman

A few weeks ago, I received a review copy of Sean Costello’s new album We Can Get Together. I was literally just about to start writing up some thoughts on the music when the news crossed the wire of his untimely death Tuesday.

It’s a great album, worthy of inclusion in any blues fan’s library. It’s especially good for long car rides when you just gotta keep going. Just be careful of the lead foot. Last time I drove back from our house in Vermont while it was playing, I found myself edging up to 80 mph more than once.

Some of my favorite cuts: Can’t Let Go, Same Old Game, Hard Luck Woman, Have You No Shame and Going Home. Hear the album on MySpace.

I’ll leave you with some words from the press release issued by his record label Delta Groove. I couldn’t say it any better:

As blues music fans, we unfortunately grow somewhat accustomed to the sadness of the inevitable passing of musical elders after long and fruitful careers. Losing someone as young, vibrant, and talented as Sean, who had accomplished so much in just a few short years and still had so much potential, is a terribly difficult blow, not only to those who knew him personally, but for the music community as a whole.”

Technorati Tags: Sean Costello, blues

Festivals

Delmark artists Tail Dragger and Syl Johnson will perform at The Ponderosa Stomp Music Festival. Ponderosa Stomp celebrates and pays tribute to the unsung heroes of rock ‘n roll, rhythm & blues, and other forms of American roots music. April 29 & 30, House Of Blues, New Orleans.

New Releases from Delmark, April/May 08

Dave Specter - Live In Chicago: Recorded live at Buddy Guy’s Legends and Rosa’s Blues Lounge, Live In Chicago features special guests Jimmy Johnson, Tad Robinson and Sharon Lewis. DVD/CD Release Parties on Wednesday, May 21 at Buddy Guy’s Legends, 9:30-1:00 and Thursday May 22 at SPACE (Society for Preservation of Arts & Culture in Evanston) Featuring Tad Robinson & many special guests.

Mississippi Heat - Hattiesburg Blues: Harmonica player Pierre Lacocque, vocalist Inetta Visor with guests Lurrie Bell, Carl Weathersby, The Chicago Horns and Ruben Alvarez. Release party Friday May 30, 10pm at Buddy Guy’s Legends. Special guest Carl Weathersby.

Technorati Tags: blues, Chicago blues, Ponderosa Stomp, Delmark

I was able to make it down to Austin, Texas for the Red Gorilla Music Festival, March 10-12, and it was a wonderful experience. Del Breckenfeld, of Fender Guitars (a sponsor of Red Gorilla) had suggested that we show “Electrified” and “Cheat You Fair” at this relatively new festival, which runs concurrently with South By Southwest, and hooked us up with Roger Martinsen, one of the producer’s of the event. We decided we’d show both films, back to back, at a venue called The Chuggin’ Monkey in downtown Austin.

On the first day I arrived, I met with Roger, a fast-talking, former New Yorker, also sporting a shaved dome, and we immediately sprang into action. Our promotional postcards had already arrived — 5000 of them — and we had lots of “passing out” to do. About 1000 into it, Roger noticed a minor problem — there was no date on the postcard! Ever the undaunted promoter, Roger immediately suggested that we go to Office Max and purchase a date stamp, collect all of our postcards, stamp them and distribute them again. So, we did… and we did. At times like this, there is no time for feeling defeated or down, and we both gleefully sprang into action to make the best of what proved to be a minor obstacle.

Throughout Austin, from bar to bar we hoofed… from the Civic Center, to restaurants, and to public places of all kinds. There were mountains of fliers and postcards for films and events of all kinds, promoted mostly by exhibitors at the gargantuan South By Southwest Film/Music Festival. There were rockers from around the world, filmmakers, auteurs and fans. Billy Bob Thorton and his band were playing that night; there were rumors that REM would be playing at some local dive. In any case, Roger and I had a great time together and walked almost every inch of Austin on that first day. Five Starbucks coffees later, by evening, my dogs were blistered and battered, but I felt a great sense of achievement having passed out a good (properly stamped) 3500 postcards, promoting my film screening the next day.

On the day of the event, not a whole lot happened. Roger had some preliminary things to take care of, but our work had already been done. At around 1pm, we made it down to The Chuggin’ Monkey.

The screening was at 3pm. A photographer name Nikki Paschen was at the bar, already taking pics of people in the club and passerbyers. She had a great story how her boyfriend, a professional charter boatman, had recently captured a 600 lb. Mako shark with a tiny hook.

The screening was about to begin.

A group of guys from Sweden (one of whom had visited Maxwell Street) showed up, along with several other locals. Nanci Walker, Director of Creative Affairs from Universal Music Publishing, was also there.

It was a typical hot afternoon in downtown Austin, except for the fact that Maxwell Street was now being rediscovered at the Chuggin’ Monkey!

Nanci had to leave before the end of the film, but she gave me her card and asked that I call her about producing similar documentaries for Universal in the future. She thought my Maxwell Street film was very powerful and, potentially, marketable.

When it was over, I left for my hotel to take a nap and Roger and I planned to hook up later in the evening and hit some local clubs. From my hotel window, I could see the convention center, which was the focal point of South By Southwest.

That night, Roger and I met up and hit several places in downtown Austin, enjoying the local flavor along the way.

We discovered one little bar where 95 yr. old Chicago blues icon, Pinetop Perkins was playing the piano with his band.

Before we left, Roger and I were lucky enough to get our picture taken with Pinetop, a true, blues legend and generous man.

See you next year, Austin!

Phil Ranstrom Writer/Producer/Director

“Electrified: The Story of the Maxwell Street Urban Blues” “Cheat You Fair: The Story of Maxwell Street”

Technorati Tags: Red Gorilla, Pinetop Perkins, Fender, Austin, SxSW