I haven't been typing much lately.  It all started out with being angry at my dog.  How dumb is it to be angry at a dog?  But, I was.  Letting the dog out the other night, I got more mad at her for pulling on the leash, so in a fit of idiotic vindictiveness, I timed one of her excited-to-be-outside lunges with a firm yank. …not realizing my little finger was somehow caught up in the leash.  I spent 24 hours with it on ice.  Then some heat.   It has been a few days but I am still spending a minimum amount of keyboard time as I recover.  What time I have been spending, I have been doing for my paying gig.  That hasn't stopped me from seeing music, just communicating about it.

I have caught some good music in the past few days.  Last weekend it was Howard Luedtke at the Snout Saloon. It was a short night for us.  We are training in a new babysitter so we had a midnight curfew.  We caught the first set and a little over half of the second.  What can I say that hasn't already been said?  Howard is a consistently great guitar player.   Friday night was no exception.  The crowd was mid sized for the Snout, a little bit smaller than the usual Howard draw.  

For those that don't already know, Magic Deb has been sick, but treatment is going well.  Check out her web page at http://howardluedtke.com/debNotes.htm for more info.  In the meantime, Howard is working with both a new bass player, Brenda King, and the night of the Snout, he also had a drummer I hadn't seen him with before.   Mike "The Hammer" Johnson from the Twin Cities.  He plays with Howard quite a bit in the MN area.

The music was different than the standard Blue Max set.  When Howard plays with Deb, I feel like the entire Luedtke musical repertoire is available and might be played next.  With Brenda and Mike, I feel like the music might have to center around songs, I won't call them easy, but ones they all know they can play comfortably.   So, it lends itself well to a bit of Howard being able to show off playing an easy (for him) number.  That made for a fun show for the night, but long term it gives us good cause to wish Magic Deb well, and return to her bass.

Howard plays a spirited House of the Rising Sun

Howard Luedtke performing a traditional blues number, I Don't Need Your Lovin'

South Farwell sings Silhouette

This past weekend, I caught South Farwell playing at the Fineline Music Cafe in Minneapolis.   It was a good show despite the weather.   The snow started early in the day and there was maybe six inches on the ground by show time.  With Minnesota in deficit mode, I think they only own one or two snow plows over there any more.  I was very glad to be able to land in for an overnight with my friend, The Stash.

I thought South Farwell played a very conservative show.   Now, I realize I need to qualify this statement.  Because, they also played a song they had never performed in public before.  A move which is on the riskier end of the spectrum.   But, what I am talking about, is they played in a very conservative style.   Much different than the last time I saw them at the State Theater where the guitar/horn solos were long and wild and lead singer Bill Boles was really pushing himself.  At the Fineline they were playing it safe, doing a good job.   I thought it interesting because they sounded exactly like their CD, when the last two times I have hear them they were much more raucous.

My friend Kimmy, who came with us to the show, liked them on the spot.  Of course, she gushed about how cute Bill Boles is, AND the music.  The best indication is, she emailed me the next day and asked me to pick up one of the band's CDs.  Her friends at work were also interested.  So, the South Farwell word continues to spread!

Howard Luedtke has a web site with a calendar at: http://howardluedtke.com/

South Farwell has a MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/farwellonline and they also have a Facebook page for tracking band events at: http://www.facebook.com/SouthFarwell

Hits: 492

Comments (1)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

...

Really enjoyed the review! Thanks for posting.

Barb , February 18, 2010

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Write comment

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment