Terry Hanck is well known for his hard blowing sax, incredible range and gusty vocals. Born in Chicago, Hanck was heavily influenced by the blues, soul and jazz music of the 50’s and early 60’s. After moving to California in 1965, he toured with Elvin Bishop through most of the 70’s and 80’s and Bishop gave him plenty of opportunities to hone his craft on stage. “Terry Hanck is a fine vocalist, an amazing showman, and my favorite sax player,” says Bishop. Terry Hanck left the Bishop band to tour under his own name in the late 80’s playing a signature mix of New Orleans Gumbo, West Coast Jump and East Bay Funk, all delivered with a heavy dose of blues and soul.
By the age of 15, John was playing in bands in Tampa Fl. with much older musicians, honing the skill that would later become his trademark.
Then it was on to Los Angeles, where stints with blues, funk, rockabilly, swing, reggae and even metal bands would lead to the montage of genres that defines his music today. He also did studio guitar work for popular shows such as "L.A. Law" and "Quantum Leap."
After a few years performing on stages across the United States, Europe, Canada and Mexico, John made New Orleans home and soon found himself playing with legends such as Dr. John, Cyril Neville ... Galactic ... and Tab Benoit.
Lisi was also a member and principle song writer for blues super group 6 Strings Down.
Amidst a plethora of talent, the young man made a name for himself through his offbeat portrayals of life, the honesty ringing from his sultry voice and his ability to make his fingers fly over a Dobro, mandolin, steel guitar or Stratocaster as the mood took him.
Prestage and the arsenal of weapons he learned to play while busking on Beale Street in Memphis should make for great listening and interesting viewing. From his bio:
"I started playing drums with my feet as an attention grabber but soon found out that the drums played with foot pedals actually enhanced my music dramatically," Prestage said.
"Not only were people listening and buyin' discs, they were now dancing and hollerin' to boot.
"Now I am to the point where, if you close your eyes, you would think there was a professional drummer with a full-size drum-kit behind me," he continued.
Rich easily ranks as one of the best vocalist around and should have no problem warmly rocking the Bradenton venue and those enjoying the show via the webcast.
In addition to working with the Soulshakers, she's toured with Janis Joplin's old band:
"Over the years she has taken her band on the road up the East Coast and to Europe as well as self producing four CDs," reads Rich's bio. "In the year 2000, Wendy took some time off from the Soulshakers to tour as front person for the legendary Janis Joplin’s original band Big Brother & the Holding Company."
In addition to witnessing the performance, I'm excited to interview Rich about her killer upcoming album "Driver" as well as talk to Fowler about his recent dates playing with personal fave Johnny Winter.
Sol Driven Train bring hippie vibe to Damon Fowler's "Sugar Shack Mondays"
Be brave blues diehards.
We're venturing outside the proverbial box for the Feb. 7 edition of Damon Fowler's "Sugar Shack Mondays" with superb, genre-hopping, national-touring act Sol Driven Train.
Sol Driven Train’s music weaves through genres like images in a Tom Robbins paragraph. The band’s sonic schizophrenia absorbs songwriting influences like John Prine,Paul Simon and Afro-Caribbean rhythmic explorations, into honest songs of life, love, loss, and long johns.
The 5-piece band, based in Charleston, SC, features rotating lead vocalists, and multi-instrumental talent spread across horns, strings, and percussion. The band members share a musical history dating back to childhood, and their music and live shows are filled with a spirit of positivity and joy, even while traversing subjects of suffering and death.
I'm stoked to see Fowler flex his chops and jam with these guys before he scoots up the East Coast for a tour that includes a couple dates with personal fave Johnny Winter.
Miller grew up in Chicago and spent a decade in the great Lonnie Brooks' band performing magor gigs such as President Bill Clinton's inauguration. The Indianapolis, Ind.-based Miller also backed Anthony Gomes before fronting his own group Biscuit Miller and the Mix in 2000.
Biscuit's chop bag is bottomless, and contains everything from mathematically spaced eighth notes, endless permutations of blues walk-ups and downs, thumps, plucks, taps -- you name it, it's in there.
And Biscuit is just like sunshine, just being in his presence makes you feel good. Hearing him play makes you want to go home and practice.
The Jan. 31 edition of Damon Fowler's Sugar Shack Mondays will be the last to actually feature Fowler performing until he gets back from some East Coast dates for a Feb. 14 Ace's appearance, and then not until April 4, when he returns from an international tour taking him to Italy, Canada and across the U.S.
Click screen at 8 p.m. Jan. 31 to watch "Sugar Shack Mondays"
Fowler will not be present this evening. He's somewhere in Caribbean with Taj Mahal, Joan Osborne & the Holmes Brothers, Kenny Wayne Sheperd and others on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise.
Kach plays Hammond B-3 organ and sings with Dickey Betts and Great Southern. He's also performed with Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes and toured nationally with Molly Hatchet. When not playing with a Southern rock hero, the Sarasota resident fronts his own act the Michael Kach Group
Mike Kach
I've witnessed Kach singing and playing organ — he excels at both — on the Allman Brother’s Band favorite “Statesboro Blues” while performing with Betts.
Fowler used to wow crowds with a fiery rendition of the ABB epic classic “Whipping Post.” Could we hear some Allman Brothers songs Monday?
“That’s up to (Kach), but I’d be up for it, for sure,” Fowler said.
Expect to hear the Bradenton Beach resident perform songs off "Devil Got His Way" tonight.
"Sugar Shack Mondays" Jan. 3, 2011/Photo by Tracy May
Here's how "Sugar Shack Mondays" operates:
Fowler and I introduce Kach, who then plays with his band for about an hour.
Following the performance, I interview Kach and throw a few questions at my friend Fowler, who I've known now for about a decade.
That’s when the webcast ends.
But not the event, which, incidentally, is free.
After the cameras are turned off, the Damon Fowler Group performs a few songs and then jams with Kach and perhaps some other musicians who have been invited in advance. Last week, in addition to special guest JP Soars, longtime Fowler performing and songwriting collaborator Ed Wright joined the jam.
Damon Fowler's "Sugar Shack Mondays" Jan. 3 with special guest JP Soars
Check out "Sugar Shack Mondays" on Facebook for more pictures and updates here and here.
Damon Fowler tours nationally, records for the highly respected label Blind Pig and his 2009 release “Sugar Shack” reached No. 12 on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums chart.
Fowler also happens to live on Bradenton Beach.
Since relocating about a year ago to Anna Maria Island from Brandon, the singer/songwriter and guitar hero has returned from the road to regularly deliver powerful performances to a packed house at Ace’s.
Billed as “Bradenton’s live music venue,” it’s where Fowler will debut his ambitious new webcast series “Sugar Shack Mondays,” which features a nationally-touring guest each week. I’ve known Fowler for the past decade and gladly agreed to co-host the interview segment of the show.
“Last summer we were playing in Kentucky and the promoter did a webcast of our performance,” Fowler said. “I saw that it was well viewed and how cool and easy it could be.”
Boca Raton-based JP Soars and the Red Hots, the 2009 International Blues Challenge winner, is the special guest for the Jan. 3 premiere of “Sugar Shack Mondays.” The trio recently released the album “Back of My Mind.” Singer/guitarist Soars excels at everything from blues and jazz to rock and metal. Like Fowler, he’s an ace slide player as well.
"On Sunday afternoons when I was young, the whole family would get together and play and sing," Damon Fowler said in a release issued today. "I thought that's what all families did on Sunday. It never occurred to me that music was not part of the fabric of daily life for everyone."
Fowler, a national touring artist signed to the highly respected blues label Blind Pig, will bring his spirit of family music gathering to Ace's in Bradenton by hosting "Sugar Shack Mondays" starting January 3.
"Since the release of Damon's CD, 'Sugar Shack,' then Damon moving to Bradenton Beach, I thought it would be cool to name a night or series after both Damon and the CD," said owner of Ace's Renee Bennett. "Then coincidentally I ran into Damon on the beach. After a few creative moments the idea evolved and now we are on our way to a very special event with many of Damon's friends."
Damon Fowler (right) and Wade Tatangelo at music writer's Tampa place Jan. 2009.
Fowler's vision includes broadcasting the regular Monday night series as an online webcast. In addition to the live show, Wade Tatangelo, music writer with the Bradenton Herald, will conduct interviews with the guest acts, reads the publicity release.
Fowler and band mates Chuck Riley (bass) and James "Big Country" McKnight recently finished recording "Devil Got His Way." It will be released Jan. 18 by Blind Pig Records.
Buzz Worthy is a forum for Bradenton Herald features writer/columnist Marty Clear to share his thoughts on the Bradenton-Sarasota arts, theater and music scene as well as the national entertainment scene, including television and movies. He welcomes feedback on all these topics.
Follow @bradentonheraldFollow @martinclear
Posts
