Playlist: May 9, 2012

Steve Lucky's Hammond Cheese Combo, Mint Julep
     Mon 5/14 @ Club Deluxe
Quinn DeVeaux & The Blue Beat Review, They All Asked For You
Tin Cup Serenade, Manitoba
Panique, Minor Swing
     Thu 5/17 @ Viracocha: Fog City Blues 5th Anniversary Revue

California Honeydrops, Bubble Gum (in-studio)
Chris Cotton, The Gambler / The Angels (in-studio)
Amber Gougis, Let Me Love You (in-studio)
John Németh, Late Night Boogie (in-studio)
Meshugga Beach Party, Go Go Golem (in-studio)
Christmas Jug Band, Plant A Santa (in-studio)
Beso Negro, If You See Kay (in-studio)
Little Wolf & The Hellcats, Built For Comfort (in-studio)
Blue Rodeo, Joker's Wild (in-studio)

Robert Johnson, They're Red Hot
Robert Lowery, Crossroads Blues
Roy Rogers, Stones In My Passway
Dennis Johnson, 32-20 Blues
Howell Devine, When You Got A Good Friend
Hot Tuna, Walkin' Blues

Rick Estrin, My Next Ex-Wife
Tommy Castro, Make It Back To Memphis
Joe Louis Walker, Soldier For Jesus (in-studio)
Kenny Neal, Baby Bee (in-studio)
Quinn DeVeaux, Goin' Back To Oakland (in-studio)
Tin Cup Serenade, Aunt Hagar's Blues (in-studio)
Panique, Ma Première Guitare (in-studio)

Playlist: May 2, 2012

Howell Devine, You Got Me Runnin'
     Sat 5/05 @ 50 Mason Social House
     Sun 5/06 @ Revolution Cafe
Rupa & The April Fishes, Build
     from the forthcoming album Build
     Sat 5/05 @ Center for the Arts
Amber Gougis, Oh Boy
     Sat 5/05 @ Viracocha
Quinn DeVeaux & The Blue Beat Review, Leave My Woman Alone
     Fri 5/04 @ Club Deluxe
Seth Augustus, Let's Get Henry to Drill a Hole
     Thu 5/03 @ The Torch Club
     Fri 5/04 @ Revolution Cafe

Special in-studio guest: Shovelman

Riding High (in-studio)
Sound of the Train (in-studio)
The Tracks (in-studio)
Tom Waits, 2:19
On The Run (in-studio)
Moonshine (in-studio)
The Dirty West

Steve Lucky's Hammond Cheese Combo, Dink's Blues
Steve Lucky's Hammond Cheese Combo, Dig That
     Mon 5/07 @ Club Deluxe
Pinetop Perkins, Willow Weep For Me
     from the new album Heaven
Chuck Leavell, No Special Rider
     from the new album Back to the Woods
Dr. John, Big Shot
     from the new album Locked Down

James Brown, Why Do You Do Me
Little Walter, Teenage Beat
Mark Hummel, Evans Shuffle
Rev. Gary Davis, Floor Sweepin' Rag
Rory Block, I Belong to the Band
     from the forthcoming album I Belong to the Band: A Tribute to Rev. Gary Davis

Playlist: April 25, 2012

The Plāto'nes, Cult Leader Blues
     Sun 4/29 @ The Marsh Berkeley: Philosophy Talk Live
Quinn DeVeaux & The Blue Beat Review, Packin' Up
     Fri 4/27 @ Bottom of the Hill
Wendy DeWitt, Jungle Boogie
Lara Price,  Voodoo Woman
Xandra Corpora, Thank You (in-studio)
     Fri 4/27 @ College of San Mateo Theatre: Ladies of the Blues

Special in-studio guests: Go Van Gogh

     Fri 4/27 @ Vitus

Go Van Gogh, Uncle Fester (in-studio)
Go Van Gogh, Hollywood 20 (in-studio)
Go Van Gogh, Romeo's Lament (in-studio)
Wganda Kenya, El Lobo
Go Van Gogh, Thirteen (in-studio)
Go Van Gogh, Sirens (in-studio)
Roger & The Gypsies, Pass The Hatchet

3rd Annual Left-Hand-a-thon

Albert King, Watermelon Man / Why You Treat Me So Mean
Otis Rush, Right Place, Wrong Time
Lefty Dizz, R.M. Blues
Johnny Jenkins, Help Me to Understand
Phil Guy, Last Time
Trampled Under Foot, Get It Straight
Dick Dale & His Del-Tones, The Victor
Elizabeth Cotten, Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Sunshine Of Your Love (live)

Playlist: April 18, 2012

Curtis Salgado, A Woman Or The Blues
     from the new album Soul Shot
     Thu 4/19 @ Biscuits and Blues
California Honeydrops, Pardon Me Love (live)
     from the new album Honeydrops Live
     Sat 4/21 @ Monroe Hall
Mr. Lonesome & The Bluebelles, Too Much of a Little Bit
     Fri 4/20 @ Cafe Bravado
Go Van Gogh, Romeo's Lament
     Thu 4/19 @ Roots Division
     Wed 4/25 on Fog City Blues

Special in-studio guests: Carolina Chocolate Drops

Boodle-De-Bum-Bum (in-studio)
West End Blues
Country Girl
Kerr's Negro Jig (Full Band Version)
Snowden's Jig [Genuine Negro Jig]
Mahalla
Daughter's Lament
George Jackson
     from the new album Leaving Eden (Deluxe Version)

Chocolate Drops 4/18 and the FCB Five-Year Revue 5/17

I'm in Oregon, about to put on Philosophy Talk live on three college campuses on three consecutive nights -- what we've dubbed the "Have Thought, Will Travel: Oregon Trail 2012 Tour." But I digress.

What I'm really excited about is this week's Fog City Blues. Since I'm away, it'll be a pre-recorded program I produced after interviewing one of my favorite groups of late, the Carolina Chocolate Drops -- a multi-instrumental string band blending old and new in some seriously infectious ways.

Fun fact: one member of the band and I share an alma mater in Oberlin College (along with a couple of members of our own California Honeydrops -- what's up with Obies and their band names?). In any case, the Chocolate Drops played a couple of their bluesier tunes live in the studio (one of which we played on the air last week), talked about some other songs on their new album Leaving Eden, and generally made it a terrific way (for me) to spend a Sunday morning in between their Bay Area gigs. Tune in Wednesday at 9pm to hear the band and their music, or check it out after the broadcast at KALW's Local Music Player.

Speaking of local music, earlier this year the program celebrated five years on the air, and next month we're taking that anniversary to the stage. On Thursday May 17 it's a Fog City Blues 5th Anniversary Revue at Viracocha in San Francisco, featuring live music form some great friends of the show: Tin Cup Serenade, Panique Gypsy Jazz, and the Quinn DeVeaux Trio.

 

This is a kind of event I've been thinking about for some time (the initial spark coming from my wife Andrea). It's a great way to bring the show out from behind the radio microphone. Local Bay Area musicians have been a major inspiration in putting together the show each week, not least when they come perform live on the air -- a pure privilege for me to enjoy from right across the control board. So I hope you and yours will join us at a great San Francisco venue for an evening of some of the best Fog City Blues.

Playlist: April 11, 2012

Carolina Chocolate Drops, You Be Illin'
Carolina Chocolate Drops, No Man's Mama (in-studio)
     Wed 4/18 on Fog City Blues
Taj Mahal & Etta Baker, Railroad Bill
     Fri 4/13 @ Montalvo Arts Center
Quinn DeVeaux & The Blue Beat Review, Tiger In Your Tank
     Sat 4/14 @ The Starry Plough
Bombino, Ahoulaguine Akaline (I Greet My Country)
     Tue 4/17 @ New Parish
     Wed 4/18 @ Kuumbwa Jazz

Special in-studio guest: Saul Kaye

Mi Chamocha
Sea of Reeds (in-studio)
Kol Han'shamah (in-studio)
Blessed Be The Name
Can't Be Satisfied / Two Wolves (in-studio)
Adon Olam
     from the new album Jewish Blues Vol.III: T'filah!

Jimi Hendrix Experience, Tax Free (live)

Junior Parker, Taxman
Eddy Clearwater, I.R.S. Man

Robert Cray Band, 1040 Blues

J.B. Lenoir, Tax Payin' Blues
Fiddlin' John Carson, Taxes on the Farmer Feeds Us All

Mance Lipscomb, The Titanic
John Brim, Humming Blues
Hound Dog Taylor, Ain't Got Nobody
Lester Chambers, Rent Me
Herbie Hancock, Head Hunters
Louis Armstrong, Go Down Moses

Playlist: April 4, 2012

Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks, You Gotta Believe (live)
     Fri 4/06 @ Davies Symphony Hall: 70th Birthday Bash
California Honeydrops, Pumpkin Pie (live)
     Fri 4/06 @ New Parish
     Sat 4/07 @ Moe's Alley
Carolina Chocolate Drops, Boodle-De-Bum-Bum
     Sat 4/07 @ Slim's
     Sun 4/08 @ Mystic Theatre
Saul Kaye, Adon Olam
     Thu 4/05 @ Blue Water Bistro
     Sat 4/07 @ B'nai Israel Jewish Center
     Wed 4/11 on Fog City Blues

Special in-studio guests: Amber Gougis & Karina Denike

    Sat 4/07 @ Viracocha: The Immortal Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday, What A Little Moonlight Can Do
Amber Gougis, I've Got A Right To Sing The Blues (in-studio)
Karina Denike, Until The Real Thing Comes Along (in-studio)
Amber Gougis, Gone With The Wind (in-studio)
Karina Denike, You Go To My Head (in-studio)
Amber Gougis, Let Me Love You (in-studio)
Karina Denike, Twenty-Four Hours A Day (in-studio)
Billie Holiday, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Muddy Waters, I Can't Be Satisfied
Muddy Waters, I Be's Troubled
R.L. Burnside, I Be Troubled
Guy Davis, Can't Be Satisfied
Jeffrey Wright, I Can't Be Satisfied
The Rolling Stones, I Can't Be Satisfied

Muddy Waters, Let's Spend The Night Together
Muddy Waters, Kind Hearted Woman
Muddy Waters, Smokestack Lightnin'
Muddy Waters, Good Morning Little School Girl
Muddy Waters, Southbound Train
Big Bill Morganfield, Born Lover
Mud Morganfield, You Can't Lose What You Never Had
Muddy Waters, Got My Mojo Working (live)
Otis Spann, Blues For Martin Luther King

Playlist: March 28, 2012

Jerry McCain, Steady
Jerry McCain, My Next Door Neighbor
     Jerry 'Boogie' McCain (1930-2012)
Tip of the Top, I Got To Go
     Thu 3/29 @ 7 Mile House
     Sat 3/31 @ Grand Deli Saloon
Kally Price, Confessin'
     Fri 3/30 @ Bravado
     Sun 4/01 @ Amnesia
Maria Muldaur, Steady Love
     Thu 3/29 @ JCC San Francisco
     Sat 3/31 @ Lark Theater

Extra Action Marching Band, Durge
     Sat 3/31 @ Mezzanine
Vagabond Opera, Tough Mazel
     Fri 3/30 @ Ashkenaz
Rebirth Brass Band, Feelin' Free
     Fri 3/30 @ The Independent
     Sat 3/31 @ Mezzanine
California Honeydrops, Cry for Me (live)
     Thu 3/29 @ Armando's
     Fri 3/30 @ The Independent
     Sat 3/31 @ Mezzanine
Mark Growden, The Love of It All
     Thu 3/29 @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall
Dennis Johnson, Down In New Orleans
     Sat 3/31 @ Lagunitas Brewing Company
Howell Devine, Honey Bee
     Fri 3/30 @ Speisekammer
     Sun 4/01 @ Revolution Cafe
Gaucho, Sergei Stomp
     Thu 3/29 @ Yoshi's Oakland

Blue Rodeo, Never Look Back
Monkeyjunk, The Marrinator
David Gogo, Please Find My Baby
Bill Johnson, Fishing with Your Boots On
Harrison Kennedy, Shame The Devil
Suzie Vinnick, I Can Tell

Sue Foley, Stupid Girl
Jeff Healey Band, Yer Blues
Eric Clapton, Little Queen of Spades
Robert Jr. Lockwood, Little Queen of Spades
Rufus Thomas, Reconsider Baby
Lowell Fulson, I'm Glad You Reconsidered
Sonny Boy Williamson, Early In The Morning
Big Maceo Merriweather, So Long Baby
Pete Johnson, How Long How Long

Playlist: March 21, 2012

Tom Waits, You Can Never Hold Back Spring
Sonny Boy Williamson, Spring Time Blues

Special guest: Elvin Bishop

James Cotton & Elvin Bishop, So Glad You're Mine
James Cotton, Paul Butterfield & Elvin Bishop, Diggin' My Potatoes
James Cotton, Find Yourself Another Fool
     Fri-Sun 3/23-25 @ Yoshi's Oakland

Herbie Hancock, Watermelon Man
     Sun 3/25 @ Hilton Oakland Airport: West Coast Blues Hall of Fame
Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians, Canadian Capers
Tin Cup Serenade, Limbo Jazz
     Tue 3/27 @ Revolution Cafe
Go Van Gogh, James Conn
     Sat 3/24 @ Disco Volante
Quinn Deveaux, White House Lullaby
     Thu 3/22 @ El Rio
Con Brio, Black Hole Blues
     Fri 3/23 @ Boom Boom Room
Nice Guy Trio, Any Alleyway (Sidewalks And Alleys)
     Thu 3/22 @ Yoshi's Oakland
George Cole Quintet, Melody of Love
     Thu 3/22 @ Yoshi's Oakland

Bob Dylan, You're No Good
Pete Seeger, Forever Young
     from the new album Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan, Forever Young
Aretha Franklin, The Weight
Aretha Franklin, Mary Don't You Weep
Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Precious Lord
Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Up Above My Head I Hear Music in the Air
Son House, Levee Camp Moan
Otis Spann, Hotel Lorraine
Clarence 'Frogman' Henry, Ain't Got No Home
Mark Hummel, They Don't Want Me To Rock
     Thu 3/22 @ Regency Ballroom: "Take Heart" Bread & Roses Benefit
     Fri 3/23 @ Main St. Brewery
Rick Estrin, You're Gonna Need My Help
     Fri 3/23 @ Palms Playhouse
     Sat 3/24 @ Biscuits and Blues

Playlist: March 14, 2012

The Five Bells, My Cutie Pie

Willie Nelson, Outskirts Of Town

     Fri 3/16 @ Fox Oakland

Howell Devine, Boat's Up The River
     Fri 3/16 @ Amnesia
     Sun 3/18 @ Revolution Cafe
Tip of the Top, Hard to Get
     Fri 3/16 @ Viva
     Sat 3/17 @ The Standby
Rick Estrin and the Nightcats, Walk All Day
     Fri 3/16 @ Mojo Lounge

Special in-studio guest: David Roche

     Thu 3/22 @ Bimbo's 365 Club: Blue Bear 40th Anniversary Benefit

Jackie Greene, Seven Jealous Sisters
Jackie Greene, Till The Light Comes
Jackie Greene, Revolution Man

Bob Dylan, Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat (alt)
Lightnin' Hopkins, Automobile Blues
Lightnin' Hopkins, Up On Telegraph Avenue
Big Brother and the Holding Company, Summertime
     from the new album Live At The Carousel Ballroom 1968

John Lennon, The Luck of the Irish 
John Lee Hooker, Mr. Lucky
Chuck Berry, I'm Just A Lucky So And So
Ruth Brown, Lucky Lips
Roosevelt Sykes, You Can't Be Lucky All The Time 
B.B. King, Bad Luck
Guitar Slim, Bad Luck Blues

Lightnin' Slim, Bad Luck And Trouble

Albert King, Born Under A Bad Sign

Roy Brown, Hard Luck Blues
Big Bill Broonzy, Bad Luck Man 
Memphis Minnie, I'm A Bad Luck Woman

Washboard Sam, Good Luck Blues
Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra, Happy Go Lucky Local
Bessie Smith, Lady Luck Blues 
Frank Sinatra, Luck Be A Lady
Sammy Davis Jr, That Lucky Old Sun

Playlist: March 7, 2012

Meshugga Beach Party, Heavy Malaga
Flogging Molly, The Times They Are A-Changin'
     Sat 3/10 @ Fox Oakland
Catherine Russell,  Under The Spell Of The Blues
     from the new album Strictly Romancin'
     Fri 3/09 @ Yoshi's San Francisco: American Beauty Project
     Sat 3/10 @ Yoshi's Oakland: American Beauty Project
Wendy DeWitt, Nervous
     from the new album Industrial Strength
     Thu 3/08 @ The Saloon
Howell Devine, Devil Got My Woman
     Sat 3/10 @ Armando's
     Sun 3/11 @ Revolution Cafe

Harvey Mandel, A Wade In The Water
     Thu 3/08 @ Biscuits and Blues
     Fri 3/09 @ George's Nightclub
John Németh, Heartbreak With A Hammer
     Sun 3/11 @ Poor House Bistro
Rod Piazza and the All Mighty Flyers, Blue Shadows
     Fri 3/09 @ Fulton 55
     Sat 3/10 @ Biscuits and Blues
Tip of the Top, My Baby's Gone (And I Feel Good)
     Fri 3/09 @ Poor House Bistro
Big Cat Tolefree, Jinky Woman
     Thu 3/08 @ Dublin Sports Bar
     Fri 3/09 @ Mojo Lounge
Omar Sharriff, Love Is Just A Fool
Lloyd Price, Oooh-Oooh-Oooh
J.B. Lenoir, Livin' In The White House
King Biscuit Boy, The Bum Is Mine

B.B. King, I Need You So (Live)
     from the forthcoming album Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2011
Carolina Chocolate Drops, No Man's Mama
     from the new album Leaving Eden
Heritage Blues Orchestra, Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down
     from the new album And Still I Rise
Otis Taylor, Yell Your Name
     from the new album Otis Taylor's Contraband

Eric Bibb, Bayou Belle
     from the forthcoming album Deeper in the Well
Ruthie Foster, You Don't Miss Your Water
     from the new album Let It Burn
Joan Osborne, I Don't Need No Doctor
     from the forthcoming album Bring It On Home
Janiva Magness, There It Is
     from the forthcoming album Stronger for It
Nathan James & The Rhythm Scratchers, Black Snakin' Jiver
     from the forthcoming album What You Make of It
Bob Margolin with Mike Sponza Band, Rollin' and Tumblin'
     from the new album Blues Around the World
Big Bill Morganfield, Rising Son
Mud Morganfield, Short Dress Woman
     from the forthcoming album Son Of The Seventh Son
Muddy Waters, Baby Please Don't Go (Live)

Playlist: February 29, 2012

Big Bill Broonzy, Leap Year Blues
The Leap Frogs, Dirty Britches
Count Basie's Kansas City Seven, Lester Leaps In
Roy Milton, Hop, Skip And Jump
Louis Prima, Jump, Jive, An' Wail
Walter Horton, Jumpin' Blues

Special in-studio guest: Joe Louis Walker

     Thu-Fri 3/01-02 @ Biscuits and Blues
     Sat 3/03 @ Palms Playhouse
     Sun 3/04 @ Moe's Alley

Joe Louis Walker, Hellfire
Joe Louis Walker, Ride All Night
Joe Louis Walker, Too Drunk To Drive Drunk (in-studio)
Joe Louis Walker, Soldier For Jesus (in-studio)
Butterfield Blues Band, Mellow Down Easy
Joe Louis Walker, Black Girls
     from the new album Hellfire

HaDag HaNahash, California
     Thu 3/01 @ The New Parish
Michel Winograd & Khevre, Oyfn Sheydveg (At the Crossroads)
     Sat 3/03 @ Freight & Salvage
Allen Toussaint, A Dear Old Southland
     Thu-Fri 3/01-02 @ Yoshi's Oakland
Gaucho, Dark Eyes
     Thu 3/01 @ Yoshi's Oakland
Howell Devine, When You Got A Good Friend
     Sun 3/04 @ Revolution Cafe

Slim Jenkins, Little Lean Woman
     Sat 3/03 @ Cafe du Nord
Beso Negro, Cobblestone Shore / Joseph, Joseph (in-studio)
     Sat 3/03 @ Cafe du Nord
     Sun 3/04 @ Lagunitas Taproom
Volker Strifler Band, Going To Brownsville
     from the new album Let the Music Rise
     Wed 3/07 @ Club Fox
George Thorogood and the Destroyers, 2120 South Michigan Ave
     Thu 3/01 @ Uptown Theatre Napa
     Fri 3/02 @ Fox Theatre Redwood City
Cassandra Wilson, Last Train To Clarksville
     Davy Jones (1945-2012)