James Harman — blues raconteur extraordinaire — is 74, without the means to earn a living, and beginning chemotherapy for Stage 4 cancer.
Category Archives: related music
Zach Zunis on brush with Cash
Since our last post, we have been thinking about guitarist Zach Zunis. Like Mike Flanigin, Zunis could be a mere footnote in the Devils’ story despite filling a critical role in the band for several months. And let’s be clear: For some people, the Zach Zunis version of the band was the one they sawContinue reading “Zach Zunis on brush with Cash”
DVL resurrects Red Devils in 2016
DVL is the name of a “supergroup” of musicians uniting to revive the spirit of The Red Devils in 2016. The band is Austin blues player Guy Forsyth (Asylum Street Spankers) and three members of UK’s The Hoax — Jon Amor, Robin Davey and Mark Barrett. The Hoax was known for having been inspired byContinue reading “DVL resurrects Red Devils in 2016”
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”
The Blasters back in Midwest
The Blasters are storming through the Midwest U.S. again this summer. It’s always a good thing to see the gang, and this short run has some added incentive for Red Devils fans. Opening a series of shows will be Javier and the Innocent Sons. The Minneapolis-based group features Javier Matos, who many might remember fromContinue reading “The Blasters back in Midwest”
Keys, Songs and Questions from “King King”
The standing joke about blues music is that to play it you only have to learn three chords and be able to play in a corresponding number of keys. At your average blues jam on a random night in Anywhere, USA, one would expect to run into a whole boatload of songs in E, AContinue reading “Keys, Songs and Questions from “King King””
Lester Butler remembered at Simi Valley Cajun & Blues festival
For one afternoon only, Lester Butler was back on stage. A portrait of Butler — blowing harp, arms covered in tats — by artist Theo Reijnders rested on an easel stage left May 29 at the 22nd Annual Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival for a performance by Big Pete and his Lester ButlerContinue reading “Lester Butler remembered at Simi Valley Cajun & Blues festival”
Lester Butler tributes in Netherlands, California
It seems we’re heading into a little Lester Butler renaissance. Not only is “13 featuring Lester Butler” being reissued on March 22, but two tribute shows are set up featuring many of the musicians heard on that record. First up is Lester Butler Tribute Night March 25, 2011, with the Lester Butler Tribute Band atContinue reading “Lester Butler tributes in Netherlands, California”
Bateman & Bartel go back to “Church”
No doubt their paths have crossed a few times in the last 15 years, but here is video proof of Bill Bateman and Jonny Ray Bartel jamming together in October on The Red Devils classic “Goin’ To The Church”: The video was shot Oct. 10, 2010, at a VFW post in San Gabriel Valley, California.Continue reading “Bateman & Bartel go back to “Church””
No Fightin' 