"So, where in the heck are your fans?"

I have had this question put to me several times during my "career" in music, usually by an unhappy bar owner as we both gaze upon his (or her) mostly empty venue.

 

Now, I use the word "venue" loosely here.  The word means a place where an organized event occurs.  In many of the joints I have played over the years, it was a miracle that anyone besides the band was in the place because the bar didn't bother to do even the slightest bit of promotion for this aspect of their own business.

Most of these place have been neighborhood bars or sports bars that have had live music bolted on to the business as an apparent afterthought.  Some floor space is allocated for a band by temporarily removing some tables and chairs in the vicinity of the restrooms or the dart machines.  Illumination is provided by the many flat screen TVs that continue to show sports programming during the band's "show."  And a dance floor?  Fuggedaboudit!

We have played at bars recently that didn't have any sort of web presence - no web page, no Facebook page, nothing at all except a couple of accidental Yelp! reviews.  A couple of places did have Facebook pages, with wrong phone numbers and long out of date event postings.  You would think these places would at least provide table tents with the current music calendar for customers to look at, but I don't recall the last time I saw one.

Now the Preachers do the following to promote our shows:

• We let fans know about gigs on our Facebook page.
• We post our calendar on our ReverbNation and band web page.
• We send our calendar to our large (and growing) e-mail list every month.
• Individual band member remind their friends about gigs on Facebook.
• We send posters to the clubs for every gig (hard to quantify if this has any effect).
• Readers are updated about gigs on this blog.

But you know what?  Sometimes, in spite of our best efforts, we bomb at a gig anyway.  This usually happens at these places that can't be bothered to create an atmosphere that is conducive to enjoying live music, or doing their part to promote their live music events. Do bars really want to leave the promotion of the live music portion of their business up to musicians?  In some cases, apparently so. Good grief!

You can check out the Boneyard Preachers here.  See you at the nightclub!

A letter to Fender

Dear Fender Musical Instruments:

Like a lot of other folks, I like your reissue '59 Bassman combo amp.  It works great for guitar or harp.  However, it could use a few improvements, such as:

• Lose the reissue Jensen speakers, please.  They sound like poo.  You guys can't afford to buy speakers from Weber or Eminence?
• If you insist on keeping the controls located in the top of the amp, try switching the silk screening around so that we can read it right-side-up.  You DO know that musicians haven't played while sitting or standing behind their amps in decades, right?  This brilliant idea has already occurred to your competitor Peavey.
• How about adding some legs to the side of the cabinet so that we can tilt it back without having to lean it against a wall?  That would be nice.  This feature has been available on all of the rest of your large amps for ages, so it shouldn't be too much of a challenge for you.  Heck, camouflage the legs with tweed - works for me!

The reissue Bassman is a reasonable facsimile of the original Bassman, and the used amp can be had at less than cork-sniffer prices.  But let's face it - the reissue Bassman is never going to become a collectible amp.  It will never retain its value like the better sounding, hand wired  Victoria '59 Bassman clone either. 

These suggestions will probably sound like blasphemy to those who like to pretend that their reissue amp is an original '59 Bassman.  But it's not.  It never will be.  However, these changes would make a reliable, affordable amp even more useful to us working stiff musicians.

Just think about it, that's all I'm asking!

Your long time fan - Mike Lynch

Check out the Boneyard preachers here.  See you at the nightclub!

CD Review - "Excuses" by Town Hall Brawl

This is a singer/songwriter’s album.  The songwriter in question is almost entirely Diane Forsyth, with a bit of help here and there.  Town Hall Brawl is her band, and it consists of Don Forsyth on electric and slide guitar, Billy Reed on keys, Marty Vadalabene on drums, and Diane herself on vocals and bass.

I say this is a singer/songwriter’s album because that’s a wide a category as is available to me.  I don’t want to put this CD (or this band) into a bag like “Blues” (although they can get real bluesy), or “Alt-Country” (although some tunes have a strong country flavor) or even that catch-all, “Americana.”  These folks play Diane’s songs in a way that transcends categories.  Each song is an individual piece, and this bunch of veteran musicians has enough skill and experience to make them come individually alive.  The level of craftsmanship here brings The Band to mind, or some of Dylan’s latter day efforts, “Love and Theft” perhaps, or “Modern Times.”

Diane's voice and delivery make me feel right at home, with a warm, familiar feeling like we’re sitting on the steps of her front porch talking about life.  Her songs are all about life – days gone by, regrets, anger, embarrassment, hard work for low pay, the need to just pull it together and keep on keepin’ on.  Except for Billy Reed’s lilting instrumental tune, “Daytrip to Havana,” this isn’t a particularly cheerful album.  But it’s the kind of album that’s likely to make a person feel better – like a good long conversation with a friend.  I’d be hard pressed to pick out favorites from this set – the concurrent variety and consistency of material here is one of the album’s strong points, if that makes any sense.  

The music itself is fine.  Don Forsyth is an excellent, creative guitarist, and I particularly liked his intense slide work.  Billy Reed is great throughout – he’s played with everyone in town, and his versatility shows on this recording.  He’s the central support for many of the songs, creating an underlying fabric that holds the songs together.   Marty’s crackling drums are just right, and Diane’s simple and solid bass works well for the songs she writes and sings. Seattle legend Conrad Uno was at the board for this recording, and the overall sound and production is up to his internationally renowned standards.     

The CD design and packaging of this CD is unusually good for a local release, with cool artwork by Jenica Cruz and a full lyric booklet.  A first class  effort all around!  Cheers for Town Hall Brawl!

By Mark "Tall Cool One" Dalton

 

Summer 2013

The Boneyard Preachers play the Porterhouse Brewfest in Mt. Vernon

The Preachers played a nice outdoor gig in Mt. Vernon yesterday at the Porterhouse Brewfest.  This was a benefit for the Lincoln Theatre downtown. Two other bands also played this gig - Kim Field and the Mighty Titans of Tone, and the CD Woodbury Band.

We played the first set at a little after 2:00 PM. I thought that the band sounded great!  A pro sound system was provided and the sound guys did a good job.  At this kind of gig there is no point in worrying about what it sounds like out front - I figure if I can hear my vocals and amp on stage, it's all good.

Only one speed bump occurred.  My car battery died when I left my four-way flashers on after unloading at the stage.  One of the stage hands was able to give me a jump though, so Lauri and were on our way back to Seattle in no time.

Here are some photos from the gig.  All of these photos were created by Lauri Miller.

El Machete

The Mighty Mite and Stoop Down

Big Daddy

The Preachers at work

 

You can check out the Boneyard Preachers here.  See you at the nightclub!

The Preachers play the 907 and a party in the woods.

The Preachers played two dates this weekend: Friday night at the 907 Bar & Grill in Snohomish, and a private party in a backyard in Kenmore.

The 907 Bar & Grill is located on First Street in Snohomish, on a block of popular bars and storefronts.  The 907 is right next to the Oxford Saloon, where a classic rock band entertained a full house.  I would include a link here to the 907, but the club has no web page, not even a Facebook page.  As with the Oxford, the 907 has new owners, so maybe they just haven't had time to get around to creating a web presence.

We did kinda like this sign outside the 907, though...

This is another room that has added live music as an apparent afterthought.  There is no stage, the ceilings are tall, the external walls are made of cinder block, and the floors are all hard wood.  The bands space is arranged so that the band plays directly to the bar instead of the customer tables which are all located to one side.  Did I mention that there are no lights?

See what I mean?  That's Mark Dalton on the bass.

Combine all this with a dirth of customers and it is just about impossible to get the band sound under control in this place.  Oh well, we did get paid, and the staff was super nice, so it's all good, I guess.  A big thanks out to Mark "Tall Cool One" Dalton for helping us out on the bass this night.

Saturday afternoon we played a private party in a backyard in Kenmore.  This was a nice, relaxing, well paid gig.  The neighbors called the cops with a noise complaint after our first set, so we toned it down and made it through the rest of the gig with no problems.  The fried chicken  was good, baby!

Ready for some blues in the woods.

You can find out more about the Boneyard Preachers here.  See you at the nightclub!

The Boneyard Preachers play on the Mighty Mouth Blues Show

The Boneyard Preachers played live on the Mighty Mouth Blues Internet radio show last Monday.  You can find and stream this show via the NWCZ Internet radio station on Monday nights from 8:00 to 11:PM Pacific Time.

Jonathan "Oogie"  Richards and "Sweet" Danny Ray are the DJs on the Mighty Mouth Blues show.  Oogie has been a radio DJ here in the Seattle area for years and Danny is also the harp player and vocalist for the popular RoadDogz band

We had a ball playing and being interviewed by the Mighty Mouth Blues dudes.  Keep up the good work, guys!

You can find a podcast of this show here.  Here are some photos from the session:

 

Conrad and Patty

 

Patty and Steve

 

David (aka On1), Oogie, and Danny

 

Conrad, Oogie, Tim, Mike, Steve, Patty, and Danny

You can find out more about the Boneyard Preachers here.  See you at the nightclub!

The Preachers Play at the Starday Tavern and Leslie Milton turns 75

The Preachers trekked down to Portland, OR on July 19th to play at the Starday Tavern.  The Starday is located on Foster Road in Southeast Portland, and is owned by the same folks that own the popular Duff's Garage across town.

We had to slog through a 50-mile long traffic jam in Washington, that stretched from the Southcenter Mall to Olympia.  As usual, the backup in the southbound lanes appeared to be caused by people rubbernecking at an accident that occurred on the I-5 northbound lanes.  Once we passed the site of the accident on the other side of the freeway the traffic cleared out.

However, we made it to the club early enough to set up and relax for a little bit before the 9:00 PM downbeat.  The Starday is a small narrow bar with the stage located next to the front door and the front windows. A portion of space at the rear of the club is allocated to video gambling machines.  The club provides a small four channel PA system with flying speakers.

We played a two hour show to a small but appreciative audience that included several of Portland's fine musicians, plus our old friend Ray Varner, and Cascade Blues Association President Greg Johnson (he created the black and white photos below).  A special shout out to our friends Rob and Kristi (and friends) for always coming to our shows.  Thanks guys!

Here's a couple of photos from the Starday date:

Photo created by Greg Johnson

Stoop Down's got the blues!  Photo created by Greg Johnson.

In other news, our friend Leslie "Stardrums" Milton (aka: "Pops" or "The Miltonian Institute") is turning 75 years-old and they threw a big birthday party for him at the New Orleans Creole Restaurant yesterday.  A New Orleans native, Leslie has had quite a career recording with numerous artists in New Orleans and Los Angeles, and playing with many bands in the Seattle area including the Bluestars, the Slamhound Hunters, and Stardrums & Lady Keys.

I could only stay for a minute to wish Les happy birthday, but I did get a few photos while I was there:

Happy birthday, Les!

Eric "Two Scoops" Moore on the rocket 88s.

Guitarist Daddy Treetops with Bassist Mark Dalton and his wife Katha.

You can find out more about the Boneyard Preachers here.  See you at the nightclub!

Stupid Harp Tricks # 1

OK, now check out the photo below taken by Miltonian Enterprises of me and guitarist Tim Sherman at the New Orleans Creole Restaurant in Seattle's Pioneer Square.  I don't know when this photo was created, but Tim looks like he just came from a wedding reception or something.

This was the night when I discovered that if I blew harp in my left hand and held my mic up to my right ear, I could get this really awesome distant echo harp sound out of my amp.  Who woulda thunk it!?

But wait, there's more!  When I use this technique, it causes Tim to fall asleep, right on the stage! 

 

 

"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..."

 

I know, I should use this superpower for good, not evil.  It would be fun to detune his guitar while he's sleeping, but the effect wears off as soon as I stop playing harp.  Say, wait a minute...! 

The Preachers play the WBS June Blues Bash - 6/11/13

The Preachers played the the Washington Blues Society's (WBS) June Blues Bash last Tuesday.  Frankly, we were a little ambivalent about playing this gig (it occurs the second Tuesday of each month) because it's a freebie, and Tim and Conrad teach music every weekday night, so they had to rearrange their teaching schedules.

Wait a minute, I shouldn't say that it is a freebie - The tip jar was passed around and everybody took home about $25.  Plus all of the players get a one-year WBS membership, which includes a subscription to the Bluesletter. 

This meeting is held at the Club Hollywood Casino on Aurora Avenue in the Shoreline neighborhood.  We played in the upstairs lounge, which is equipped with a large stage, lights, and a pro sound system and sound guy.  The sound was very good - I could actually hear my voice throughout our entire set!  If you drop by this place sometime, check out the Cadillac limousine parked in the upstairs lobby.

The Preachers leaning, styling, and relaxing next to the limo.  Photo created by the Blues Boss.

Kimball Conant and "Stickshift" Annie Eastwood opened the show with some very good acoustic tunes, followed by WBS announcements and some CD giveaways.  The Preachers then played a 90 minute set to a very appreciative audience including lots of really good dancers.

Kimball Conant and Stickshift Annie.

You can never tell when old friends will show up at a gig.  This is John and Mary Sue Bunch.  Long time Seattle blues nuts will recall that John used to play tenor sax in Nitelife in the late '70s.  John does the Hand Jive better than you do.  Just accept it.

We also booked a couple of other gigs as a result of this performance - a swing dance gig in Ballard in August, and a double bill with the Orbiters at the Highway 99 Blues Club in July, so it's all good!  More to come about those gigs soon.  Here's some more Preachers photos for you: 

Mike and Conrad.  Photo created by Cherie Robbins.

Steve and Conrad.  Photo created by Cherie Robbins.

Patty and Tim.  Photo created by Cherie Robbins.

You can find out more about the Boneyard Preachers here.  See you at the nightclub!

The Preachers at Duff's Garage - 5/30/13

The Preachers played a Duff's Garage in Portland for the first time last Thursday, and really had a ball!

Duff's is located on the east side of the river, in what looks like a light industrial area.  There is a large stage, and good house sound system.  Thursday is an off-night at the club, so we played from 9 to 11:30 PM.

The Preachers, left to right: Steve Yonck, Mike Lynch, Conrad Ormsby, Patty Mey, and Tim Sherman.  Photo created by Ray Varner.

Since this band has never played in Portland, we had pretty low expectations as far as turnout goes.  However, we had a pretty decent and enthusiastic crowd, including some friends from Seattle (DJs Dan Bryant and Oogie Richards), and Portland pals "Uncle" Ray Varner and Les Hutchinson.  Several notable Portland blues musicians were in the house also.  Harp blower Jim Wallace was kind enough to sit in with the band for a couple of songs, and sounded great, as usual!  Jim's brother, Jon, owns Duff's Garage.

Hopefully, we will have other opportunities to play in Portland again soon.  I'll keep you posted.

You can check out the Boneyard Preachers here.  See you at the nightclub!