A new album with the “Lester Butler” name on the cover is a rare thing, but “Live at Tamines 1997” misses the mark for both hardcore fans and newcomers. From the song selections, to the notes, to the packaging, so little care seems to have been put into this release. While a new disc couldContinue reading “Tamines 1997 reissue is a miss”
Author Archives: J.J. Perry
Blow like a Devil
There is some funky-weird Red Devils merch out there in the world. If you have 60 Euros you could be the proud owner of a promo Red Devils harmonica, of dubious origin. Pasi Rytkönen found this harp in a European store. From the pic, it’s hard to tell the make and model of the harmonica,Continue reading “Blow like a Devil”
1997 Tamines bootleg given mainstream release
Lester Butler is back — sort of — on the above-board release of the long-bootlegged Tamines show from Aug. 29, 1997, at the 7th South Blues Festival in Belgium. The two-disc set “Lester Butler featuring 13 Live at Tamines 1997” comes from RockBeat Records, the same folks who reissued “13 featuring Lester Butler” more than fourContinue reading “1997 Tamines bootleg given mainstream release”
The Drifter Speaks: Mike Flanigin remembers his time with The Red Devils
[Above photo by Tina Hanagan; others courtesy mikeflanigin.com] A key time in The Red Devils’ history was their U.S. club tour through the U.S. Holding down guitar duties — and altering the Devils’ sound — was guitarist Mike Flanigin, filling in for rhythm guitarist Dave Lee Bartel. With Flanigin came Texas swagger, a third soloistContinue reading “The Drifter Speaks: Mike Flanigin remembers his time with The Red Devils”
The Blasters in The Cities
There was no cooler place to be in Minneapolis on June 17 than Lee’s Liquor Lounge. We were piled in there, too, pressed against the stage for The Blasters‘ return to the Twin Cities. Phil Alvin, John Bazz, Keith Wyatt and the powerhouse drummer “Buster” Bill Bateman played a greatest hits show for hipsters, rockers,Continue reading “The Blasters in The Cities”
Every word on ‘King King’
“Baby” is the most frequently used word on “King King.”
“So Low Down” lyrics
“So Low Down” (Lester Butler), from “13 featuring Lester Butler” Here come baby, she’s so down She been ballin’ in my town So low down, my baby’s so low down Sleep all day, out all night Lowdown woman feel all right So low down, my baby’s so low down She’s sleepin’ in the ground …Continue reading ““So Low Down” lyrics”
Portrait of a Knitter
Tom Harold took this portrait of Jonny Ray Bartel when he performed with The Knitters Dec. 2, 2007, at the Music Mill in Indianapolis. Some other fan photos from that gig can be seen on Flickr.
“King King” 24/7
CD, cassette, vinyl … for a cult record, there are a lot of ways to listen to “King King.” What’s your preferred method or mood for The Red Devils classic?
Intveld on Butler: “Taking something beyond where it’s been before”
Lester Butler and 13 were supposed to play their first gig at the Dixie Belle Restaurant in Downey on June 27, 1998. Butler never made it, but a tribute show was held for him that night. (An article that day noted Smokey Hormel, Steven Hodges and John Bazz all playing). Here are the details by Theo DouglasContinue reading “Intveld on Butler: “Taking something beyond where it’s been before””
