Blues Society of Western PA - Newsletter

“I am disappointed, but not dissatisfied.”  Those were Jill’s words as our band had dinner at Pig’s on Beale Street on the final evening of the International Blues Challenge.  Those words perfectly summarized exactly how we felt about our fourth trip to Memphis for the competition.  Our last trip  (the second sponsored by BSWPA) had been so dissatisfying, with sudden band personnel changes and technical issues during the gig, that it felt necessary to make the trip once more in order to give ourselves some redemption. We did that, and it felt great!  We consider ourselves very lucky to have won the regional competition in 2011 so that we could have this chance. 


This year, Jill flew down on her own after having one day at home following the Legendary Blues Cruise.  The rest of us decided to drive together for the first time.  Our first stop was Nashville, where we spent the evening watching some incredible blues.  On a Monday night in a small bar downtown we got to see both Mike Zito and Bart Walker (Bart was the second place winner this year – with Reese Wynans on keys… They were phenomenal.).  The bar was friendly and we got to sit in for a few songs as well.  


We went on to Memphis the next day, via an obligatory stop at a Waffle House.  That night we spent time all over Beale Street, soaking up the scene, meeting other bands, and generally having a very good time.  I think a few of the other bands were not feeling too well the next day due to our efforts.


Our first show in Memphis was early, we were the second band.  Thanks to our instrumental requirements, we were lucky enough to be put in BB King’s club for the first round.  What a great room and stage.  We also had the best and nicest sound man that we saw in any of the venues.  The show went well that night.  We played only three songs – two of which had never been played in Memphis before, and received great complements from many of the people there.  Since we were done early, we had the chance to go check out some of the other bands in town.  We saw Bart Walker again, a kid from Topeka named Nick Hern (who we also had met in Nashville) and threw our support behind our local friends, Ron Yarosz and Chris Yakopcic.


The next day, after a stop at the never-ageing Graceland, we were given the next to last spot in the competition, around 11 PM.  One or two of us still had to show up at 7 o’clock and stay there.  Have you ever tried to sit in a bar in Memphis, watch eight blues bands, and not have a beer?  Somehow, we managed.  After sitting around for hours, it was our turn.  The night almost took an ugly turn as Steve, while climbing the stage with his piano in his arms, nearly fell backwards off it!  Luckily, members of the Spanish band the Travellin' Brothers were there to catch him.  Nice guys and great musicians.  Although we didn’t feel like we played very well that night, the crowd was complimentary and by the end of the night, we had made the semifinals.


The competition the next day was interesting.  We played first out of only four bands.  This is where we made our week.  We played very well, so well that we don’t believe we could have done better.  At that point, it’s up to what the judges in the venue prefer.  Well, they picked a talented band from Tampa led by Selwyn Birchwood.  They were great and had an interesting sound, performing in an entirely different style from us.  In the end we were disappointed, but not dissatisfied.  


Unbeknownst to us, we were chosen to compete in the consolation competition on Saturday night.  We received an e-mail stating this fact on Saturday morning at 10 AM, but by that time we were already out shopping and eating on Beale Street  and on our way to visit Sun Studio.  It is unfortunate that we were ignorant, but the free time was not wasted.  After our dinner together at the Pig, we made a trip to the casinos in Tunica, saw some great music by an old-style country band from Nashville (we were a bit blues-ed out by then), and were lucky enough to meet the self-proclaimed Arkansas Moonshine Man.  For more details you will have to ask a member of the band…


We would like to thank BSWPA for the chance to go down to Memphis again, and wish the next winner the best of luck.  We all feel that we completed this trip on a high note, both musically and personally, and are looking forward to spending the next year performing as often as possible.  It’s what we do, and we can’t seem to stop.


 ~ Nick Crano