Hi All (and welcome to: David, Peta, Lully, John, Jenny)

“Music (http://thinkexist NULL.com/quotation/i-smoke-and-i-drink-and-every-time-i-blink-i-have/397383 NULL.html) is only love looking for words”

Lawrence Durrell

I am running late this week due to ISP and technical issues.

This week we have the Auckland invasion: The Flaming Mudcats and The Nukes

http://www.theflamingmudcats.com/ (http://www NULL.theflamingmudcats NULL.com/)

http://www.thenukes.co.nz/ (http://www NULL.thenukes NULL.co NULL.nz/)

If you need some extra nudging off that couch, how about this wee email (with permission)?

“We saw the Flaming Mudcats on Waiheke a few weeks ago and I’m really keen to get a party together to come to their gig next Thursday” Peta Stavelli Editor Que Magazine

So that’s 7.30 for 8pm and home by eleven at Biddy’s. Door: $15 (or $10 if you are a club member or you receive this email). Hey, and our prices are well below our Auckland/Wellington counterparts! We get our musical shots for less! Another reason to live in the Tron. Plus the CD prize draw and Biddy’s 2 Steinies for $10. Will this largess ever end?

Please keep those Xmas Party RSVPs rollin’ in (for 8th December). We are about ½ way full. Santa wont come unless you do.

A correction from last week, the door price for Alex and BB http://www.myspace.com/bbandalex (http://www NULL.myspace NULL.com/bbandalex) who are playing on 17 November, courtesy of Hamilton Acoustic Music Club, is $15 (or $10 if you are a club member or get this email).

Don’t forget Pauline Sinel with Jazz de Vice and Kokomo coming up on 24 November http://www.kokomo.co.nz (http://www NULL.kokomo NULL.co NULL.nz/).

Week-links:

Hamilton Blues Society: www.hbs.org.nz (http://www NULL.hbs NULL.org NULL.nz/)

Latest images, ephemera etcetera: http://treforward.wordpress.com (http://treforward NULL.wordpress NULL.com)/ (http://treforward NULL.wordpress NULL.com/)

Community Radio 106.7 FM : http://thebluesroom.blogspot.com (http://thebluesroom NULL.blogspot NULL.com)/ (http://thebluesroom NULL.blogspot NULL.com/)

[Last week’s show featured W(h)anganui’s (and one of New Zealand’s) best: Blues Buffet. Their new CD All You Can Eat. They’ll be up this way next year.  Plus local blues harp + guitar Max McDonald’s EP]

Graham Reid’s: www.elsewhere.co.nz (http://www NULL.elsewhere NULL.co NULL.nz/) ….. some snippets from Graham: OH, and last week I mentioned the Womad 2012 line-up? If you go here (http://www NULL.elsewhere NULL.co NULL.nz/search/?q=womad+2012) you can see what Elsewhere — the only magazine in New Zealand where you can consistently read about world music — has made of some of them in the past. Have  squizz, pretty persuasive. There is also an interesting track From the Vaults (http://www NULL.elsewhere NULL.co NULL.nz/fromthevaults/) by the Beatles (with a few fun facts thrown in), an article about Tintin (in anticipation of the Peter Jackson movie), an article at Absolute Elsewhere (http://www NULL.elsewhere NULL.co NULL.nz/absoluteelsewhere/) about Flying Nun on their 30th birthday (there’s also that lengthy Tom Waits interview there too) . . .

Kind regards

Tony Kaye

Bonjour Encore,

“Without music, life would be a mistake.” Friedrich Nietzsche

Welcome to the new ones this week: Graham, Neil, Ngaire, Lee (Aus) and Joclyn.

You don’t have to go to France to enjoy ‘Les Bleus’, you can do it right here in Hamilton. So if you feel like some eye-gougingly good blues then come along and check out Ashley Knox – of Hurricane Shayn Wills sideman fame – at our regular Blues Night Thursday gig tomorrow night (Thursday 27 October). One of our Raglan cousins, Ash is our first import from that seaside musical bastion.

It’s 7.30 for 8 pm and home by eleven. Cover charge is $10 (or just $5 if you get this email).  HBS committee is currently planning the 2012 Blues Gig Diary – ‘going forward’ (that ridiculously redundant phrase) – which we hope to publish and update regularly for upcoming festivals, concerts, Jams, workshops, picnics, touring acts and regular weekly gigs.

Don’t forget the Xmas party RSVPs by the 31^st.

Week-links:

HBS latest Jam images, ephemera etcetera: http://treforward.wordpress.com/ (http://treforward NULL.wordpress NULL.com/)

Community Radio: http://thebluesroom.blogspot.com/ (http://thebluesroom NULL.blogspot NULL.com/)

‘An ever-expanding on-line magazine for people curious about new music…..’Graham Reid’s:  www.elsewhere.co.nz (http://www NULL.elsewhere NULL.co NULL.nz/)

 “I’ve never missed a gig yet. Music makes people happy and that’s why I go on doing it – I like to see everybody smile” Buddy Guy

Kind Regards

Tony Kaye

Dear Blues Family,

There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats. Albert Schweitzer

 What a Jam last week: 120 folk, younger musos on stage to kick off in style, Lifetime Certifcatees played a great couple of sets. Thanks Nate, Pauline, Mike and Sally for all your efforts over the years. Some more about them may appear in the Hamilton Press soon.

Our regular Blues Night Thursday – this week ie tomorrow, 20^th October, 7.30 for 8 at Biddy’s ($5 on door) is opening with one of WINTEC’s best Mr Jason Herbert plus headlining is Bryon Steenson’s River Rockers….

Trefor Ward – photographer extraordinaire – has devised this photoblog: http://treforward.wordpress.com/ (http://treforward NULL.wordpress NULL.com/). It’s first outing and still in development mode – it gives us a taste of the space to come. Such an asset for HBS as an archive/record of the artists, local and otherwise, we host and a place to show off the posters and images given to us by the artists for their upcoming gigs etc., Thanks Trefor.

Week-link: Right here (http://www NULL.elsewhere NULL.co NULL.nz/) are two terrific collections pulled from the vaults …. one of which brings to light Jimi Hendrix at the top of his game in 1968 over four discs recorded live at the Winterland in San Francisco. Check the clip at the bottom. Stunning stuff. AND, someone you have probably never heard of from Seoul in South Korea in the late Sixties/early Seventies, the extraordinary guitarist/producer/songwriter Shin Joong Hyun who has just had a CD compilation released. It is wonderful. Have a look and a listen, and prepare to be surprised. (Courtesy Graham Reid’s:  www.elsewhere.co.nz (http://www NULL.elsewhere NULL.co NULL.nz/) )

Don’t forget to RSVP by 31 October for the Xmas Jam Party (on 8th December).

 He has Van Gogh’s ear for music. Billy Wilder

Tony Kaye

Welcome Back All,

“Blues is the glue that sits in the gaps that holds popular music together” – Hamilton Press 4 October 2011

 Jam night is our most popular gig of the month – when the musos get to let their hair down (if they’ve still got any). Jam rules are:

-                      3 x songs per set (15 minutes or plug pulled)

-                      Jam Captain (Deano) runs the whiteboard (first-in-first-served)

-                      First couple of sets usually reserved for our younger musos

-                      Stick to the blues genre or a blues feel (eg heard recently a really good version of ‘Lady Madonna’ by Junior Parker on Come Together: Black America Sings Lennon & McCartney). If it’s good, it’s blues.

This week we also have the Lifetime Membership Presentations at about 9pm to these deserving recipients

-                      Mike and Sally Garner

-                      Pauline Sinel; and

-                      Nate Taiapa (he of Community Radio fame: http://www.communityradio.co.nz/index.asp?PageID=2145835508 (http://www NULL.communityradio NULL.co NULL.nz/index NULL.asp?PageID=2145835508) or  http://thebluesroom.blogspot.com/ (http://thebluesroom NULL.blogspot NULL.com/)

Followed by a special  ‘Founders’ Band set comprising the lifetimers + Bruce Dennis (who played at the inaugural gig back in 1995) + others? Because of this the whiteboard may be pretty chocka this week which is why we are starting at 7pm. So, if you miss out on a play, don’t panic ‘cause the 3^rd November is our next Jam night (a week earlier than normal due to a booking error, mine) and we are having 2 x Jam nights in December.

Thanks to Chris and team at Virtual Print (http://www NULL.virtualprint NULL.co NULL.nz/) for printing of the certificates.

See you there. Gold coin cover charge + CD draw.

Week-link: http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/fromthevaults/4480/tom-waits-and-the-kronos-quartet-diamond-in-your-mind-2007/ (http://www NULL.elsewhere NULL.co NULL.nz/fromthevaults/4480/tom-waits-and-the-kronos-quartet-diamond-in-your-mind-2007/) Tom Waits (if you are feeling a bit rebellious or religious). Waits has a distinctive voice, described by one critic as sounding “like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months and then taken outside and run over with a car.”

Coming Up….

Check out: Jazz Day Feb 18^th 2012. We don’t usually promote non-HBS hosted events but this supports local Morrinsville charities and may interest blues/jazz fans.

www.oaklanelodge.co.nz (http://www NULL.oaklanelodge NULL.co NULL.nz/)

Tony Kaye

Dear Folks

“I can’t listen to Wagner that much. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland.” – Woody Allen

 This week’s Blues Night (6 October 2011) sees the return of locals: The Conmen (opening set) plus the fab-dabulous Johnny Stash (headlining). And as usual our CD prize draw between sets. Cover charge $5. Start time 7.30pm for eight (and home by eleven).

This email’s short ‘cause I want to leave room for a separate email about our 2011 Xmas function heading your way soon. And next week’s Jam night will be a longer email.

Thanks to all you regular stars, we love you. You know who you are (Terry, Diane, John, Leila, Lee, Greg P, Anna, Ann, Karen…. to name but a few). You shall be rewarded (we haven’t figured out how yet!).

 “Tap your foot (in response to a question from on 60 Minutes regarding what his music was all about.) – Count Basie

 Kind regards

Tony Kaye

Hey everyone again (449 members and growing),

If one plays good music, people don’t listen and if one plays bad music people don’t talk. Oscar Wilde 

Daylight has been saved for another year (just when I was getting used to not doing the lawns).

This week we are early by a day because the good folk at Community Radio (that’s 107.6 FM) need to make sure everyone knows about Blues Night Thursdays at Biddy’s. (And in case you don’t happen to check your email in time for the show).

We’ve got some great music coming up on 6 October (Johnny Stash and Ashley Knox) and then our rootin’ tootin’ Jam Night on Thursday 13 October. A special gig as we dish out Lifetime memberships and musically because a ‘Founders’ band (circa 1995) will be doing a special set…. But more on all this next week

Back to the present moment. Auckland’s The Blue Collar Band cannot be here this Thursday due to a Tangi  the lead singer is attending in Perth. But we will reschedule. In the meantime this week – and for only the second time (and hopefully not the last) – Sarita Murdoch will be opening with her gorgeous bluesy/acoustic mix. If you havent heard Sarita yet (even if you have) she is, by consensus, one of Hamilton’s must see musical treasures.

Headlining this week is Graeme Webb’s Double Vision Blues. Graeme is a superb blues technician in the Peter Green/Gary Moore mould (with his 30 year old Gibson Les Paul in hand and vintage Hot Cake pedal at foot). Magic Murphy on vocals (stop stealing my songs man, no you do them better) plus Graeme’s other sidemen (Derek H, Chris D, Eric O) ….well just sit back and enjoy…and remember it’s 7.30 for 8 and home by eleven at Biddy’s (Cover charge $5 includes CD prize draw entry).

Link of the week: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTPRecords (http://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/user/TheTPRecords) B Side Band a couple of week’s ago doing ‘Sittin’ in the Rain’. Thanks to Mike Whitehead at TheTPRecords for his slick video work (with special harness)

From Graham Reid’s www.elsewhere.co.nz (http://www NULL.elsewhere NULL.co NULL.nz/) some inside knowledge on Pink Floyd if you are interested three-part series on Floyd (http://www NULL.elsewhere NULL.co NULL.nz/absoluteelsewhere/)

 Music with dinner is an insult both to the cook and the violinist. G.K. Chesteron

P.S. Next week we are going to check out your preferences for the Hamilton Blues Society Xmas party. Probably in a separate email.

Kind Regards and E&OE

Tony Kaye

Hey there Blues Aficionados,

“Where words fail, music speaks.” – Hans Christian Andersen

 I must report to you that last week’s Blues Night Thursday was a lovely gig thanks to our headliners B-Side Band – and our ‘new big find’, opening set songstress Serita Murdoch. Being reasonably new to the Hamilton scene I didn’t know we had such a wonderful musical talent in our midst. So thanks Serita – come back soon, Hamilton needs you.

This week it is a double whammy treat: Tomorrow night (Thursday 22^nd , that’s 7.30 for 8 and home by eleven) at Biddy’s features local bands Acoustic FX and Hamilton River Rockers.

Then on Friday (23^rd) Hamilton Blues society is hosting Roomful of Blues at Sky City with not one, not two but three bands: The Mike Garner Band plus The Great Brain Robbers and Shotgun Hill. So make two nights of it.  The music kicks off at 9pm so there’s plenty of time to enjoy a meal, listen to the blues (and for those can’t resist, Wallabies v USA).

Link of the week: http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/fromthevaults/4406/john-lennon-strawberry-fields-forever-1966-demo/ (http://www NULL.elsewhere NULL.co NULL.nz/fromthevaults/4406/john-lennon-strawberry-fields-forever-1966-demo/)

 ”Sugar is not so sweet to the palate as sound to the healthy ear.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

 Kind Regards

Tony Kaye

Dear Blues Folk,

 The scratches in Yoko Ono records are moments of relief. ~S.A. Sachs

Yep, it’s that time of the week again. After a great Jam last week, it’s now time to slide back into our regular Blues Night Thursday groove with the fab The B-SIDE Band from Tauranga. They’ve kindly donated 2 CD’s for this week’s prize draw. B-SIDE performed at the recent Rotorua Blues Festival.  Have a look here (http://www NULL.partybands NULL.co NULL.nz/talent/bsideband) for more info. The door tomorrow is $5. That’s 7.30 for 8 and home by eleven.

 This week should be a beauty – being the night before All Blacks v Japan. Sonny hasn’t said he’ll be along of course, but the fans should be getting prepped and will be in need of some laid back blues before winding up to the big Friday game. Let’s show ‘em Hamilton at very our own Biddy’s fan-zone.

 We’re keen to have your feedback. We get lots of comments (good and constructive) which is useful as we build ‘the product’. We ain’t perfected yet, but we are always open to persuasion. After all, it’s your night.

 Link of the week: http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/fromthevaults/4287/stan-freberg-rock-island-line-1956/ (http://www NULL.elsewhere NULL.co NULL.nz/fromthevaults/4287/stan-freberg-rock-island-line-1956/)

Opera is where a guy gets stabbed in the back, and instead of dying, he sings. ~Robert Benchley

 Kind Regards

 Tony Kaye

Dear Music and Blues Lovers,

“… that’s one of the cool things about going to local bars: seeing what people are doing and jamming with them. I’m a huge advocate of jamming with others; you learn a lot. So I love to go and do that – even if people wipe the stage up with you..” – Slash – Guitar – Guns & Roses, Velvet Revolver, Solo

It’s Jam night again folks. That’s tomorrow night, Thursday 8 September, 7.30pm at Biddy’s Bar. Gold coin at the door. Plus your usual CD draw chance. If you are a muso here’s your chance to strut your stuff. Jam Capitan, Deano, is in charge of the white board (3 songs or 15 minutes per ensemble). But if you aint a muso, you’ll hear a great mix of live local music and blues provided for your delectation.  This month, we are also looking forward to giving Cameron’s lovely PA our ‘packed in like sardines’ test on Jam night. As honorary Soundie, Cam’s made a great impact in terms of sound quality on our Blues Night Thursdays. Keep up the great work Cam.

Please note, previously advertised lifetime awards to be given out tommorrow night have been postponed till next months jam night.

“Hell is a half-filled auditorium.” – Robert Frost (1874-1963) Looking forward to spotting ya there.

Tony Kaye

Hamilton Blues Society

021 2433 262

www.hbs.org.nz

Dear Blues and Music Lovers,
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.”
- Jimi Hendrix
Hope you enjoyed Shayn Hurricane Wills last week – ably supported by dynamo Drummer Freddy Limbert with Bassist Ashley Knox from Raglan.
This week’s Blues Night Thursday is tomorrow 1 September 2011, the first day of Spring, featuring The Mike Garner Band from Rotorua. Mike was ‘the man’ when it came to founding Hamilton Blues Society in 1995. Mike’s ‘Steppin’ Out To The Blues’ CD (with son Paul Garner) will be this week’s prize CD draw. Check Mike out at: www.mikegarner.co.nz (http://www NULL.mikegarner NULL.co NULL.nz) OR http://www.youtube.com/cadsalley#p/f/8/b2RQN5XciSs (http://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/cadsalley#p/f/8/b2RQN5XciSs)
Opening for Mike will be the new Chris Dunn band Point Blank.
We want to acknowledge our customer ‘regulars’ – without your support we wouldn’t have a show. So thank you. This week, door entry ($10) includes a free beer (or equivalent) to the value of $7 at Biddy’s bar. And those who are yet to extract themselves from the comfy couch and Coro (it looks like Gail’s going to be in jail for a while) you get the same deal!
Find of the week: I am in love (musical of course)! Her stage name is Kimbra! 21 years old and a real talent. I reckon she’s Hamilton’s (and soon to be Melbourne’s?) greatest musical export. Check out Graham Reid’s Elsewhere review of Kimbra’s new album ‘Vows’. http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/music/4399/kimbra-vows-warners/ (http://www NULL.elsewhere NULL.co NULL.nz/music/4399/kimbra-vows-warners/) She’s already touted the new Amy Winehouse (let’s hope that’s a blessing not a curse).

“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs.
There’s also a negative side.”
- Hunter S. Thompson (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Hunter_S NULL._Thompson)

Kind Regards,
Tony Kaye