Oh man, you just got to love the blues. From this music based on things not
being so good, seems to come good things, or at least most folks claim to feel
better and act happier after hearing the blues. Funny how that works.
Springfield gets its fair share of good blues acts through town. Mainly because
of the hard work and dedication supplied by members of the Illinois Central
Blues Club, who we so rightfully lauded a few columns ago when the group
celebrated 23 years as an organization. Every week the ICBC hosts the Blue
Monday Jam at the Alamo starting around 8:30 featuring our finest area blues
groups plus an array of national touring acts. This week’s band, Chris Bell and 100% Blues, hail from North Hollywood, Calif., and are in
the midst of a Midwest tour in support of Real Bluesman, their latest CD.
Bell, known as a purveyor of Chicago-style electric blues, plays lead guitar and
sings, as well as being chief songwriter of the quartet. Back in California he
also moonlights as Jimi Hendrix performing with the Ultimate Jimi Hendrix Experience: Roomful of Mirrors, as the late, great musician and songwriter. Somewhat unusual in the world of
blues, where any I-IV-V chord progression and a couplet or two sometimes passes
for a song, Bell catches a good bit of praise for his songwriting prowess and
specifically the lyrics. The band is a bit different as well, with a drummer
and bass player per normal but featuring a keyboardist who plays the classic,
Hammond B-3 organ. Musician readers may recognize that old beast for the
incredible instrument it is and for those who have ever moved one, let’s all share in a group moan. But anytime there’s a real B-3 on stage instead of a modern, synthesized, digital keyboard, in my
book that’s a treat.
In addition to the 20-something-year tradition of Blue Mondays, Springfield now
has another weekly blues night. Bruce Clark, proprietor of Bourbon Street, a
nightclub on the corner of 11th and South Grand (and the original home of Blue Mondays as Bruce’s Tavern), started Blue Sundays about five weeks ago. In the spirit of
reclaiming and restoring the Southtown area, Clark revamped his building and
this spring is opening a courtyard area attached to the north end of the
establishment. He’s had a few jazz acts in house, but settled mostly on touring blues bands like
Bill Lipken, Deak Harp and others. Coming this week on March 22 from 7 to 11
p.m., Clark booked Hadden Sayers, a native Texas bluesman now residing in Ohio,
who travels with a standard blues trio of guitar, bass and drums.
Sayers spent his formative years in Texas, soaking up the immense Lone Star
State blues scene, hanging with the likes of Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Joe Ely, Omar and the Howlers, Eric Johnson, and many other players in
the music-laden state. He worked for a time with the legendary BB King rhythm
section, “Silent Partners” and went on the road with blues workhorse Lucky Peterson. In 1993 Sayers
started his own group, toured constantly, released five recordings, and
basically did the thing up right over the next 10 years. After an intense
decade of music involvement he relocated to Columbus, Ohio and took a couple
years off to write and rejuvenate. Now he’s back on the scene, touring all over to great acclaim with a new CD and a hot
band. Here’s another tidbit for our musician readers: Sayers’ main guitar is a mostly stock, 1957 Fender Stratocaster, affectionately known
as the Battleaxe.
Remember, you don’t have to have the blues to enjoy the music. Then again you may have the blues
and not even know it. Better take the cure.
This article appears in Mar 12-18, 2009.
