What's black and white and BEN all over? Today's newspaper! Specifically, the Des Moines Register Datebook features a glimpse of our very own Ben Williams, available here , and shows the heart of the one we think of as a "gentleman of jam" and "lovable hippie guru". Seriously, we're super-proud of our friend's talents and accomplishments, and hereby proclaim this as the official kickoff weekend for "The Year of Ben", not only with Kaleidoscope & Lady Blue, but especially Truth Be Told, his jam band that is rapidly rising to the top of the hippie heap.
I can't begin to tell you how much the friendship of Ben, his wife Lori, and their sons JB and Jeremy, means to me personally. (Trivia--Ben actually officiated the wedding ceremony of Brandon and me 1-1-05, and our first concert event together was with Ben and Lori to see Gov't Mule in Omaha 9-16-04--we've come a long way since that infamous car ride, haven't we!) Suffice it to say, their support in ways big and small has continually revolutionized my music and my life. What a miracle to experience more of our dreams bobbing and weaving their way into "kaleidoscopic" reality every day. So as my tribute song, "The Gospel of Ben" says:
On this golden road of devotion
I want men of passion in my band
And in this world of lukewarm locomotion
I have faith in the faith of our faithful friend
I believe, I believe, I believe in The Gospel of Ben...
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A peek at the other family bands...
"Who shall set a limit to the influence of a human being?" -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
It's pleasantly becoming more apparent that our musical circle of influence is greatly expanding, beyond just our pride and joy Lady Blue:
Brandon:
Midnight Wine--his own blues ensemble with Joe Koelling/bass, David Larson/keys, and Mike Woods/drums; B is on lead vocals and lead guitar, and this group just made its mark in a big way at the semifinal Iowa Blues Challenge round at Zimm's on 4-10-08.
Taste of Revival--think "Jazz is Dead" which is a jazzified group that does Grateful Dead-ish tunes. B shines in this hybrid of jazz/soul/jam, and his contribution includes several original instrumentals that are a totally different vibe than Lady Blue.
Embryo--the acoustic trio with Ben and Tina that started it all
Ben:
Truth Be Told--jam band with Ben as main muse/lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist; with Dave Sufka/bass, Eric Kent/lead guitar, and our own Randy-Randy/drums
Embryo--the acoustic trio with Brandon and Tina that started it all
Ben solo--he's a force of nature unto himself, and you'll be seeing him in this vibe a whole lot more--it's about time!
Randy:
Truth Be Told--jam band with Ben as main muse/lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist; with Dave Sufka/bass, Eric Kent/lead guitar, and our own Randy-Randy/drums who gets to loosen up even more in this setting, laying down the quintessential jammy grooves with his own effortless mastery
Kevin:
Mid-Life Crisis--classic rock/soul cover band, let's call this musical "comfort food", and they keep themselves busy with private, corporate, and club dates of all kinds.
Tina:
Taste of Revival, Embryo, traditional jazz combos and big bands (celebrating her 25-year career in 2008, of which this genre is a huge part), the occasional Red Sneaker Jazz Band Dixieland gig, various solo stints, special guest gigs, musical theatre, worship leader outings, and perhaps the most satisfying--Deacon and The Lady--doing the duo thing with her partner-in-rhyme.
Check the links column for more info on these outlets; and by all means, don't forget good ol' Lady Blue! All these side projects just make us better musicians, and make our Lady Blue times even more special.
It's pleasantly becoming more apparent that our musical circle of influence is greatly expanding, beyond just our pride and joy Lady Blue:
Brandon:
Midnight Wine--his own blues ensemble with Joe Koelling/bass, David Larson/keys, and Mike Woods/drums; B is on lead vocals and lead guitar, and this group just made its mark in a big way at the semifinal Iowa Blues Challenge round at Zimm's on 4-10-08.
Taste of Revival--think "Jazz is Dead" which is a jazzified group that does Grateful Dead-ish tunes. B shines in this hybrid of jazz/soul/jam, and his contribution includes several original instrumentals that are a totally different vibe than Lady Blue.
Embryo--the acoustic trio with Ben and Tina that started it all
Ben:
Truth Be Told--jam band with Ben as main muse/lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist; with Dave Sufka/bass, Eric Kent/lead guitar, and our own Randy-Randy/drums
Embryo--the acoustic trio with Brandon and Tina that started it all
Ben solo--he's a force of nature unto himself, and you'll be seeing him in this vibe a whole lot more--it's about time!
Randy:
Truth Be Told--jam band with Ben as main muse/lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist; with Dave Sufka/bass, Eric Kent/lead guitar, and our own Randy-Randy/drums who gets to loosen up even more in this setting, laying down the quintessential jammy grooves with his own effortless mastery
Kevin:
Mid-Life Crisis--classic rock/soul cover band, let's call this musical "comfort food", and they keep themselves busy with private, corporate, and club dates of all kinds.
Tina:
Taste of Revival, Embryo, traditional jazz combos and big bands (celebrating her 25-year career in 2008, of which this genre is a huge part), the occasional Red Sneaker Jazz Band Dixieland gig, various solo stints, special guest gigs, musical theatre, worship leader outings, and perhaps the most satisfying--Deacon and The Lady--doing the duo thing with her partner-in-rhyme.
Check the links column for more info on these outlets; and by all means, don't forget good ol' Lady Blue! All these side projects just make us better musicians, and make our Lady Blue times even more special.
Monday, April 7, 2008
KFMG gig--AKA "attack of the gremlins"
It happens, it hits the fan, and sometimes things just don't go as well as you'd like them to. That awe-inspiring home run you dreamed of turns into a base hit. Respectable, yes. Bliss zone, a resounding no.
Our day as featured performers at the KFMG event yesterday was symptomatic of this syndrome. Strong one-two punch at the set opening, but by song 3, I was besieged by an uncontrollable coughing attack with throat gunk, without warning or easy relief. And onstage in front of an audience full of potentially new fans, on an occasion strategically positioned with great influential contacts. Simply put, it sucked to have to fight through that, surrounded by the worried looks of my band behind me and my listeners in front of me.
But all's well that ends well, and the savage throat gremlins eventually left the moment, so we could finish up with our usual big ending. Special guest Scott Davis, my favorite Des Moines trumpet player, added his talent and style to our set which went as follows:
Gospel of The Blues, Higher Ground, The Blues Is A Song, Deacon's Train, Monster, Nobody's Fault But Mine, Left Me Blind (new homage to Blind Willie Johnson), Blues It Up, Independent Song (for which I called Mark Vos of KFMG to the stage and presented him with the original hand-written chart since it was composed specifically for the occasion--it provoked super dance floor jigginess!), Troubled Mind, and The Meaning of Grace (which was specially requested by Clarence Key--host of KFMG's Sunday morning jazz show).
And so it was actually a good, humbling, learning moment to be "attacked by gremlins" during this performance. They say 10% of life is what happens to you, and 90% of life is the reaction, what you do with it. So once again, when it happens, when it hits the fan, then what? To freak or not to freak, that was my Sunday KFMG gig question. The answer then and now is: freak a little, then MOVE ON, and don't forget to laugh about it later!
www.kfmg991.org
www.scottdavismusic.com
peace, tina
Our day as featured performers at the KFMG event yesterday was symptomatic of this syndrome. Strong one-two punch at the set opening, but by song 3, I was besieged by an uncontrollable coughing attack with throat gunk, without warning or easy relief. And onstage in front of an audience full of potentially new fans, on an occasion strategically positioned with great influential contacts. Simply put, it sucked to have to fight through that, surrounded by the worried looks of my band behind me and my listeners in front of me.
But all's well that ends well, and the savage throat gremlins eventually left the moment, so we could finish up with our usual big ending. Special guest Scott Davis, my favorite Des Moines trumpet player, added his talent and style to our set which went as follows:
Gospel of The Blues, Higher Ground, The Blues Is A Song, Deacon's Train, Monster, Nobody's Fault But Mine, Left Me Blind (new homage to Blind Willie Johnson), Blues It Up, Independent Song (for which I called Mark Vos of KFMG to the stage and presented him with the original hand-written chart since it was composed specifically for the occasion--it provoked super dance floor jigginess!), Troubled Mind, and The Meaning of Grace (which was specially requested by Clarence Key--host of KFMG's Sunday morning jazz show).
And so it was actually a good, humbling, learning moment to be "attacked by gremlins" during this performance. They say 10% of life is what happens to you, and 90% of life is the reaction, what you do with it. So once again, when it happens, when it hits the fan, then what? To freak or not to freak, that was my Sunday KFMG gig question. The answer then and now is: freak a little, then MOVE ON, and don't forget to laugh about it later!
www.kfmg991.org
www.scottdavismusic.com
peace, tina
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Tina and the Dirty Little Rabbits
I was almost on my way out of House of Bricks, bolting anxiously from a setting where I inevitably feel like everybody's party-crashing mom. I'd attended an informative event put on by the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition about getting your music played on the radio--check archive info at www.DesMoinesMC.com. With my page and a half of notes in hand, and my twenty minutes of polite networking out of the way (which, while scary, was enormously valuable and positive), I was ready to return to my age-appropriate, non-metal-friendly, bluesified comfort zone.
"Wait, " a perky voice chirped, thwarting my first exit attempt. "aren't you that lady, you know, the one who sings?" In shock, I turned around to the pretty and earnest 20-something, and discovered that it was the sister of Mike Pfaff of the Dirty Little Rabbits, a person I'd consider more likely to be a fan of Hinder or Nickelback than Lady Blue. I'm still eating a bit of crow from that assumption based on her sweet praise and encouraging words.
Off I went again on my second attempt to leave, and I hear from the other side of the room, "Hey, you're that singer!" I went to the friendly young man, this time giving my stock response, "If you thought she was awesome, then it was definitely me." In shock again, it was none other than Ty the drummer from Dirty Little Rabbits, who gave me a heaping helping of ego stroke, that came across as incredibly sincere. Who've thunk it? These 2 fellow music lovers gave me a smile, and taught me a little lesson that I of all people ought to know by now: that music, like love, is NOT bound by the chains of "age-appropriateness". So let's all be open to expanding our musical, as well as our relational, horizons.
www.dirtylittlerabbits.com
bluesified responses welcomed NOW!
"Wait, " a perky voice chirped, thwarting my first exit attempt. "aren't you that lady, you know, the one who sings?" In shock, I turned around to the pretty and earnest 20-something, and discovered that it was the sister of Mike Pfaff of the Dirty Little Rabbits, a person I'd consider more likely to be a fan of Hinder or Nickelback than Lady Blue. I'm still eating a bit of crow from that assumption based on her sweet praise and encouraging words.
Off I went again on my second attempt to leave, and I hear from the other side of the room, "Hey, you're that singer!" I went to the friendly young man, this time giving my stock response, "If you thought she was awesome, then it was definitely me." In shock again, it was none other than Ty the drummer from Dirty Little Rabbits, who gave me a heaping helping of ego stroke, that came across as incredibly sincere. Who've thunk it? These 2 fellow music lovers gave me a smile, and taught me a little lesson that I of all people ought to know by now: that music, like love, is NOT bound by the chains of "age-appropriateness". So let's all be open to expanding our musical, as well as our relational, horizons.
www.dirtylittlerabbits.com
bluesified responses welcomed NOW!
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