Playlist: May 30, 2012

Doc Watson, White House Blues
Bob Dylan, Lone Pilgrim
Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks, Subterranean Homesick Blues
     Wed-Thu 6/06-07 @ Yoshi's Oakland
Johnny Cash, Train Of Love
     Cash'd Out – Thu 5/31 @ Yoshi's San Francisco
Devine's Jug Band, The Lindberg Hop
     Fri 6/01 @ 50 Mason Social House
Tip of the Top, Fattening Frogs for Snakes
     Fri 6/01 @ Yoshi's San Francisco
     Sat 6/02 @ The Iron Gate

Curtis Salgado, He Played His Harmonica
Curtis Salgado, What You Gonna Do?
     Mon 6/02 @ Yoshi's Oakland
Phantom Blues Band, I Can't Stand It
     from the new album Inside Out
Tedeschi Trucks Band, Rollin' and Tumblin'
     from the new album Everybody's Talkin'
Mannish Boys, That Dood It
    from the new album Double Dynamite
South Memphis String Band, Turnip Greens
     from the new album Old Times There
Jim Dickinson and North Mississippi Allstars, Down in Mississippi
     from the forthcoming album I'm Just Dead I'm Not Gone
Jack White, Trash Tongue Talker
     from the new album Blunderbuss
Dr. John, Revolution
     from the new album Locked Down

Meshugga Beach Party, Bubbie's Kitchen
     Sun 6/03 @ Hotel Utah
Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, Barbary Blues
     Fri 6/01 @ Marilyn's On K
     Mon 6/04 @ Lagunitas Brewery
     Tue 6/05 @ Rickshaw Stop
Shovelman, This Little Pig
     Fri 6/01 @ Hopmonk Tavern
Whiskerman, Blind Saint
     Fri 6/01 @ La Pena Cultural Center
     Sat 6/02 @ Amnesia
Seth Augustus, It'll Be Me
     Fri 6/01 @ Revolution Cafe
Wendy DeWitt, Don't Tell Me You Love Me
     Thu 5/31 @ Grand Deli Saloon
     Sun 6/03 @ Armando's: Delta Blues Festival Benefit
Big Cat Tolefree, Jinky Woman
     Sun 6/03 @ Armando's: Delta Blues Festival Benefit
     Sun 6/03 @ Winterhawk Winery: Blues in the Vineyard
Bay Area Caravan of All-Stars, Why I Sing The Blues
     Sun 6/03 @ Winterhawk Winery: Blues in the Vineyard
T-Bone Walker, They Call It Stormy Monday
T-Bone Walker, Why My Baby
Duke Robillard, T-Bone Shuffle
Benny Goodman, Old Man Harlem
Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited, Yarira Ngoma
     Wed 6/06 @ Yoshi's San Francisco

Playlist: May 23, 2012

Sly & The Family Stone, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
Sam & Dave, I Thank You
Xandra Corpora, Thank You (in-studio)
Con Brio, How Many Days?
     Thu 5/24 @ Great American Music Hall

Santa Cruz Blues Festival: Saturday May 26 

Big Sam's Funky Nation, Funky Donkey
James Cotton, Elvin Bishop et al., Three Harp Boogie
Joan Osborne, Bring It On Home
Holmes Brothers, Man Of Peace
Los Lobos, Billy 1

Sacramento Music Festival: Fri-Mon May 25-28 

Contino, Rotgut Run
Big Joe & The Dynaflows, You Can't Keep A Big Man Down
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, P.A. Slim Is Back
Sista Monica Parker, Hug Me Like You Love Me 

Bob Dylan, Gotta Serve Somebody
Woody Guthrie, Little Black Train
Johnnie & Jack, Uncle John's Bongos
Bob Dylan, Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum
Charley Patton, Poor Me
Bob Dylan, It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry

Levon Helm, It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry (live)
Bob Dylan, Levon Helm & Rick Danko, The Weight (live)
Bob Dylan, Minstrel Boy
Bob Dylan, It Ain't Me Babe (live)
Levon Helm, False Hearted Lover Blues
The Band, Blind Willie McTell
Bob Dylan, I Don't Wanna Be Your Partner

Playlist: May 16, 2012

Dennis Johnson, Radio Blues (in-studio)
Howell Devine, Railroad Stomp (in-studio)
Xandra Corpora, The Battle of San Francisco (in-studio)
California Honeydrops, Miss Louise (in-studio)

Quinn DeVeaux & The Blue Beat Review, All Night Long
Tin Cup Serenade, Tin Cup Blues
     Thu 5/17 @ Viracocha: Fog City Blues 5th Anniversary Revue
Go Van Gogh, Sirens (in-studio)
     Sat 5/19 @ Revolution Cafe
Shovelman, Moonshine (in-studio)
     Sun 5/20 @ Maker Faire
     Sun 5/20 @ Lagunitas Beer Circus
Panique, Swing 48 (in-studio)
     Thu 5/17 @ Viracocha: Fog City Blues 5th Anniversary Revue
Hot Club of Cowtown, Dark Eyes (in-studio)
Carolina Chocolate Drops, No Man's Mama (in-studio)
Cowboy Junkies, Stranger Here (in-studio)
Blue Rodeo, Are You Ready For The Country (in-studio)

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, U B U
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Walk All Day
Irma Thomas, Same Old Blues
     Sun 5/20 @ Yoshi's SF: West Coast Blues For A Cure
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Back From The Dead
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, One Wrong Turn
     from the forthcoming album One Wrong Turn
Phiil Berkowitz, Midnight Rooster (in-studio)
Tip of the Top, Wait Baby (in-studio)
Joe Louis Walker, Too Drunk To Drive Drunk (in-studio)
Chris Cotton, Blues For Big Bill (in-studio)
Quinn DeVeaux, Bo Diddley Song (in-studio)
Tin Cup Serenade, Same Old You (in-studio)
Taj Mahal, Fishing Blues

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