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Hey! we just want to let you
know at performances & at CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/bluessu |
Our Friends
On Occasions we will have these
wonderful musicians performing with us. You’ll never know when they’ll show up and has played alongside many of the blues masters - Guitar
Shorty, Johnny Copeland, Coco Montoya, Finis Tasby, Deacon Jones, and Lowell Fulson. He’s been around
performing at countless venues all along the West Coast, sharing the stage and playing the blues with some of the best.
He performs as a free spirit working with many of the finest East
Side and Chicano bands in the So Cal. Area. His musical career began in the late 60’s where he discovered
he loves performing before a live audience and started focusing his attention to his musical calling – Latin
Rhythms, R&B, Soul and The Blues.
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By Frankie Firme | Web Published 6.10.2004 Blues Straight Up, a new group comprised of veteran performers, came out and made a serious impression on people with their sassy take on the blues, "Chicano style". Vocalist Lava Gonzalez (of Lava & The Hot Rocks fame) stole the moment with her sexy version of the Koko Taylor classic "You can have my husband, but don't mess with my man", which brought out loud cheers and attitude from the ladies in the house. (watch out, guys!) Other members of the group include veterans James Rodriguez on keyboard, Byron "B Man" Rodriguez on guitar, Smilin' Jack D on drums, "Big Mike" Rincon on bass, and Dave "Harpdog" Pearce on harmonica & vocals. Joining them tonight was East L.A. Revue Congero Ray Ybarra for that "lil touch of Chicano soul", and it was on! A great performance by a great group, Blues Straight Up comes at you solid & strong. They have a new CD coming out, and I highly recommend you pick this one up. You won't be disappointed! for the full article visit http://www.latinola.com/story.php?story=1847
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Blues on
a Rainy Night in Aztlan... By Frankie Firme | Web
Published 1.20.2005 It was a record week-end for L.A.
recently, as one of the biggest storms in over 30 years drenched everything
& everybody in the Land of 1000 Dances.
Traffic accidents, mudslides, road closures, flash floods, property damage, cancelled trips & events...everything
& anything to give you the blues if you live here. I do, and I had 'em,
big time! is finding a good way to accept some of
the bad things that happen in life..and taking that good feeling with you.
Works for me! in my part of the World (like a leaking
apartment roof and power outage) while staying local and dry. Luckily, I live
near the popular Tia Chucha's Cultural Cafe in the San
Fernando Valley where tonight the legendary Blues Straight Up Band was
performing...so I braved it. L.A.'s Big Mike Rincon (of The Blendells
fame) has put together a musical ensemble that has been dubbed "the finest Chicano Blues on the
Planet," and tonight for a small, fortunate audience that braved the
elements, the title was reinforced. hot Chicana vocals with attitude, the
Blues Straight Up Band makes an impression on audiences with their
interpretation of The Blues, making new fans of the genre whenever they
perform. As I came in out of the rain, you could
smell the fresh hot coffee and feel the cultural ambience Tia Chucha's is
renowned for. The art, bookstore and Latino flavor of
Tia Chucha's made the perfect backdrop for a warm night of live Blues music, and the small capacity (maybe 50 people
max) made the moment somewhat intimately friendly, making you feel lucky you got a seat in such a cozy atmosphere.
Smilin' Jack D on drums, Dave
"Harpdog" Pearce on harmonica & vocals, Byron "B Man"
Domingo on guitar, and tonight featured guest congero Ray
"Conga Ray" Ybarra of the East L.A. Revue All Star Band. If that's
not a band to say "wow" to, top it off with the
sassy Chicana vocals & stage attitude of the ultra talented Lava Gonzalez
(of L.A.'s Lava & The Hot Rocks fame) and the Blues come at you red hot!
Each member can hold their own, each giving polished solos when called upon,
otherwise blending expertly and perfectly as a well oiled machine
should . Lava Gonzalez's multi range voice can go from sultry & sexy to
hot,raw & seductive, in both english & spanish, making you
wonder why you never listened to the Blues before. Her stage antics and
Chicana wit & attitude makes it all the more enjoyable. Like all good rides & songs, the Blues
Straight Up Band's performance ended too soon. Afterwards, I had a chance to
talk with Big Mike, Lava, and the other band members, and they all
looked in a better mood than when they started, despite the heavy rains and
long drives home they all had to make. Music does that to people...especially
good music! Big Mike tells me a new CD and future performances are in
the mix. I am not gonna miss out! Hope you don't either! Frankie Firme spins the finest Chicano
Oldies but Goodies & Latin Soul music on the World Wide Web, rain or
shine, every Thursday at 6:00pm, pst, on
www.kclafm.com, and daily on www.chicanoexpress.com
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