Hi blues pple!

Just wanted to say hi from the old continent. I got a young but authentic blues quartet. Any chance to cross the ocean to get a gig? :) Thanks a lot for keeping the blues alive!!

Victor Puertas
http://www.thesuitcasebrothers.com

Posted by Victor Puertas  on  05/24  at  03:12 PM

---

hello,how do i use the lending library?

Posted by  on  06/26  at  02:12 PM

---

Hey dholley, thanks for asking.  We are working on updating the library page, but you can check that for info.  The library is usually at our events, and members can exchange there.  The librarian may also be able to help in other ways.  There is a contact email on the library page.

Posted by  on  06/27  at  08:21 AM

---

cool…

Posted by gdudiv  on  07/19  at  05:24 PM

---

I attended the “Battle of the Blues Bands” yesterday and was a bit baffled.  I spoke with a few Society members and was told the judges were looking for a blues band.  Originality, tradition, professionalism etc… With the single/duo competition, I thought the competition was close and the winner picked fairly.

While it seems the last act was exceptional at what it did, there was not one thing original about what they did.  The young man is indeed talented and has a bright future.  But, did you have to set him up for what will surely be a loss in Memphis?  I was under the impression it was a Blues Society.  Does cute and talented win?  It appears so.  One of the acts there ysterday was out of this world....professional, played originals and traditionally, as well.  A few others were also great !!  While I have no allegiance to any act that was there and thought the winner has immense talent, it turned out I seemingly went to a “Hendrix meets BB King with the volume turned up too loud” competition.  I would strongly doubt that I will attend another function run by your organization.  However, most of ya’ll were great folks.  What were they thinking? 
Please don’t take this as an attack, but I was looking forward to supporting your organization.  Ah....opinions, opinions.....Have to get back to my turntable.  Thanks for your time.  Hope you listen to great blues today. Best wishes,
WT

Posted by  on  07/30  at  12:25 PM

---

Mr Terry - as an innocent bystander there last night. I agree with you 100%. I do not know which band was ‘out of this world’ none of them were out of this world where I sat

The judges did well on the duo with was clearcut to me.

I have no interest in any band there however I thought the winner has more in common with mettalica than blues. I was very disappointed some of the bands that did not win played BLUES. I personally would be embarassed to send an act such as that to something as big as memphis to represent what I think is a fine organization. Yes the young man was talented but that was not blues - nothing original at all - typical jam session cover tunes.

Twoblue the duo winners were very good and certianly the clearcut winner. I would like to see them more often

It is my understanding the birmingham blues organization did not vote - it was all up to the judges. Don’t blame the blues organization directly - could be they need to pick better qualified judges

Posted by  on  07/30  at  01:27 PM

---

I must speak: I am on the MCBS board - I was a contestant (loser) in the solo/duo. I was not involved due to being in the contest. HOWEVER the MCBS works very hard to put these things together. If you avoid any or all MCBS events because of the BOBB...Then you are the one missing out. We have great free shows at Phelan Park, the Blues Fest on Sept 2nd will be awesome, the Blues Ball - not to mention THE only blues jam in Birmingham.

VERY hard working people on the board & volunteers to make these events happen. Give them some credit. 

If you judge the MCBS based on that one event then you have no idea about the MCBS

Posted by  on  07/31  at  08:52 AM

---

I also attended the BOBB Sunday and was very disappointed. How can an act performing only 2 tunes, both of which were not original, and completely over the top, be declared the winner of this competition.  Has this become a hair slinging-screaming contest? The first runner-up band were very professional and actually played the BLUES. The 2nd runner up was also a professional band that played the BLUES, but yet a screaming teenager clearly wanting to be a rock star walked away with the title of winner. This is embarrassing to the city of Birmingham. This young man did have a nice attitude and potential talent but far from Memphis material.  Sad Day!

Posted by  on  07/31  at  10:45 PM

---

Amen Mr. Stevens.  Young Todd was certainly cute and loud but Blues contest winner?  Say it isn’t so! I have only one thing to say to Dan and the Dusters, remember Elvis was a 2nd place winner in a contest in Mississippi but I bet you can’t guess who was 1st? Right, no one knows.  It really doesn’t matter...in the end who is still and will always be the most famous entertainer in the world?
Keep up the great music Dan, in the end it will always prevail.

Posted by  on  07/31  at  11:24 PM

---

Whoa..let’s not turn against the MCBS. It is my understanding that these people do what they do for free for the cities love of the blues. Do not turn against them for one mistake. Better judges next year might be a good idea. I was unable to attend the Battle of the Bands but I have heard Birmingham’s own Daniel Turner who fronts Dan and the Dusters,and he is a pleasure to hear.  If you haven’t heard his original tunes you’re missing out! The young man who won 1st place should maybe try keeping his act more blues for Memphis. Let’s move on and try to do better next year.

Posted by  on  08/01  at  09:08 PM

---

As a member of Dan and the Dusters, who played Sunday, I would like to say the following and am speaking only for myself.....

I was happy to play my saxophone at the event and am humbled by the nice things people have said about the band that Dan, so generously let me be a part of.  Contests are contests...judges are judges.  There are good and bad contests and good and bad judges.  I know that the group of gentlemen that I played with on Sunday were thrilled to play good music for appreciative folks.  As far as the “contest” portion of the program goes, it is what it is....a contest, judged subjectively, by humans.  We were given the criteria in advance and were happy just to be a part of the great day that happened at Zydeco on Sunday.  American Idol...The Dating Game....Dancing with the Stars....Everyone’s favorite doesn’t always win.  I was happy to be a part of a great day of music.  I know that every cat in the group, which I was a part of, had a fun day.  I just hope that one person walked away with a better appreciation for the Blues.  If that happened, we all win.
And for those wo are counting...I ended one sentence with a preposition !!
Good luck to Todd Simpson in Nashville.  Let’s support the dude. 

Dan and the Dusters will be playing at the Blues Society’s Ball on Dec. 8th.

Humbly,
Kevin Klein
Happy Little Sax Player
Birmingham, Alabama

Posted by Kevin Klein  on  08/01  at  09:27 PM

---

first of all I have no dog in the fight but enjoyed the evening just not pleased with the results but no skin off me. Kudos to the Blues Society for having the thing to begin with and working hard. 

No disrespect to Dan & Dusters but I do not recall many originals and frankly they may be third in my judging - although I was not a judge.

Refresh my memory on what set Dan & Dusters apart from anyone else. I don’t recall anything other than basic jam session/dull tunes like Sugar Coated Love (a bad version at that)...I really don’t remember much of what they did but seemed to recall not much original or anything exciting

No disrespect to Dan & co at all just looking at the contest and frankly Todd or Dan did not deserve what they got from what I saw

I saw it as
Blue Light Specials (1)
Midnight Train (2)
Dan & Dusters (3)

To each his own

Posted by  on  08/02  at  10:52 AM

---

What is “Blues?” Is it “ a vocal and instrumental form of music based on the use of Blue Notes and repetative pattern?” That’s what Wikipedia may say.  Is it the painful, spiritual shouts and chants of African born slaves forced from their homeland, beat into submission and forced to work? Surely we can all agree that’s where it started.  Or, is it the basis for virtually all modern day music evoloving from the pain, hurt, sorrow and happiness of any and every one that has ever heard, felt or played it? That’s what I believe! I believe that Blues is the full body and soul expression of emotion.  That the artist’s intent is to release that emotion as a wave over everyone that hears it.  First of all to release the pain or joy inside and secondly allowing some (NOT ALL) to empathize with them.

Well I guess I am shocked! I can only make my judgement based on my view from the stage. However, it seemed to me we evoked a lot of emotion from the crowd on Sunday and are still evoking emotion today.

Mr. Terry believes we are not original. However, his own words point out our originality. “Hendrix meets BB King.” Surely no one would argue that BB King IS Blues and that Jimi Hendrix evolved from Blues. How often do you see that?  Doesn’t that make us somewhat original? Or, would it be more original to play a little Robert Johnson exactly like Robert Johnson? Keep in mind we had exactly 20 minutes to make a statement that left the audience and the judges remembering our name. We played 2 covers like no one else EVER has and one original.  Of the hundreds of songs on our available play list (over 50 of which are original) we picked 3.  Let me say we play ALL kinds of “Blues!”

I humbly state this: Six fantastic Blues Bands played on Sunday. I am honored to have played in the one I played with. I promise you we will represent the Magic City in such a way that all will be proud! In the end we will win or lose.  However, I know, my band knows, Robert Johnson knows, Blind Willie Johnson knows, Howlin’ Wolf knows, and yes Jimi Hendrix knows we will have played “BLUES.”

Gratefully Yours
Corey Mitchell
Proud Bass palyer for the blues band Todd Simpson and Mojo Child.

p.s. Aren’t all the greats glad we didn’t have “BLOGS” back then? Can you imagine how many young artists would have given up over the critisism?

Posted by  on  08/02  at  04:05 PM

---

To my second grade grammer teacher, Ms. Crabtree, I am sorry about the above posting. I never was very good in Grammer.

Posted by  on  08/02  at  04:14 PM

---

The blues started in Africa and the slaves brought it with them. It’s not a music born of pain it was music born of survival. They enjoyed the music it did not cause them pain. If you think the blues would not exist if those folks were treated better then you are way lost

In the words of Son House - what yall played was ‘monkey junk’

You are correct yall played covers like no one else had. Noting original every guitar player in the place could have made that racket, play behind their back, teeth...basic stuff

‘The crowd’ was obviously Todd’s crowd - Looked like you invited everyone you knew. You will get blown away in Memphis not becuase you guys don’t have talent but have you NO patience, no restraint -

EVERYONE knows when to play the great ones know when not to play. A great musician plays the space between notes - there was no space. Ever had a conversation with someone who never shuts up pretty soon you stop listening. That is what it was like, need restraint - caress it - work it - don’t put the orgasm before the foreplay

Sorry dude it was horrible judging, useless noodlin, zero originality. ZERO

No disrespect You got a long way to go before you understand that it is all about.

I can assure you if Todd & Mojo had not won no one would have complained.

The drummer was cute though :-)

Posted by  on  08/02  at  05:04 PM

---

I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the great Battle of the Bands Sunday.  So many talented musicians, and getting to meet so many nice people.

However, I can tell from the post that some people had issues with the winner.  The blues are so many different things to many people.  As Willie King once told Todd, “you don’t play the blues you live them”. We believe that seeing how Todd’s journey began.  Todd may be only 18 years old, but you don’t have to be a wise old man to live the blues.  Todd was born with something called DiGeorge Syndrome with Combined Immune Disorder.  Todd has had numerous Open Heart Surgeries and over 700 days in the hospital, he receives monthly 8 hour Immune treatments in order to live.  I do not tell you this for any reason other than this....Todd did’nt find the blues the blues found him.

As a child He was exposed to all types of music but,for whatever reason he loved Robert Johnson,Sonhouse,RL Burnside and to many more to mention. Todd often plays music by these legends in traditional fashion.  The MCBS encouraged originality, showmanship, and original music.  He did all of these.  His original song “love you baby”.  Ironicaly Todd’s Father discovered the blues many years ago through Cream, Canned Heat, Jimi Hendrix any many other artist that led him to the greats.

Two years ago when Todd first started playing the guitar it was the blues that inspired him. Todd’s peers, who never knew they liked the blues, began discovering a whole new appreciation for the blues, and thus has created a great fan base.  Is’nt that why the MCBS exsist?  But for those of you who are worried about Todd going to Memphis....don’t.  Todd is just excited about the experience.  He will take his Harp case given to him by the late Great Topper Price, and his new guitar given to him by a blues lover, and play from the heart.  As Big Bo Mcgee (whom Todd used to play harp with),told Todd when he was 8 years old,"You don’t feel like I feel, so don’t play it like I feel, play it like you feel”. I think that says it all.

Again, Sunday was packed with talent and again thanks to the MCBS for keeping the blues alive.

Ina Simpson / Proud Mom

Posted by  on  08/02  at  05:18 PM

---

WOW what the happened - Is the HEAT..?
Anyway as a MCBS board member I love the passion people are showing about the contest BUTT I don’t really like some of the things said - by people who don’t post their name.

The contest is over - Todd Simpson won - deal with it. Let’s move on

For the record NONE of these comments are a reflection of The Magic City Blues Society. We work our butts off to make these events happen - we will NEVER please everyone but lord knows we try. 

I think it’s really sad for any competitor to have to defend themselves against comments made by people who will not even use their name.

It doesn’t matter if they won or lost (I lost) THEY had the talent to get up do it - SO they all deserve some credit.

Just chill out & be happy, it easier.

Posted by  on  08/02  at  06:12 PM

---

Well put, Mrs. Simpson.  I can speak for my family and me when we say that we wish Todd and his band the best!  Thanks to everyone who made this event a great success.  Todd, . stay true to yourself, and never give up.  As I have always told Daniel, everyone has an opinion, just keep the music going. Without it, the world would be a darker place. God Bless-Gena, Dan’s Mom of Dan and the Dusters

Posted by  on  08/02  at  06:27 PM

---

Mr. whatever, no we didn’t bring a posse, just 11 of us.  Sorry you can’t contribute our votes as to the reason Mojo Child won.Opinions are great, but must you be so mean.  Dan and the Dusters Mom ...thank you so much for your kind words.  Dan has a wonderful future .and we wish him much success.

Ina Simpson

Posted by  on  08/02  at  08:55 PM

---

We (2blu)REALLY enjoyed being in the house at the BOBB last Sunday.THANKS to all the volunteers and the all the righteous blues lovers.We will work hard to do you proud in Memphis.
WOW-
Apparently alot of passonate talk about Mojo-Child.....
Here’s what I know..Memphis(IBC)is huge fun.It is also a massive learning and networking experience for blues musicians.Todd will benefit greatly from going up there.I know we will too.
I remember in 2001,we(The Lucky Stiffs)won the right to go represent MCBS.Our venue was the Rum Boogie .We were on early in the line up and I thought we did our tunes the best we could do...then on came Stacy Mitchart and Blues you can use.Well...He kicked our ass and gave me the blues front man lesson of a lifetime.They won the venue.They deserved it.I hope I am better off for it.
Todd,your passion for the blues will no doubt drive you to play..and play you should!I trust you and all of us will always be open and ready to soak up lessons from other great players(especially humble ones…
Dude,you will see a TON in Memphis...soak it up my brother..
God’s Peace 2u-
Bruce Andrews
aka
2blu

Posted by Bruce Andrews  on  08/03  at  12:10 AM

---

As a board member also, I would like to thank everyone involved with helping us have a great BOBB. Yes, we are unpaid volunteers who love music and must be a little nuts too. We did our best to pick a good venue, sound, and judges.The judges were also unpaid volunteers that gave up their Sunday to help us out. Every band competition (including the IBC) is always pelted with controversy after a winner is announced. The odds of any band that we send actually winning the IBC Finals is very slim. It is a huge competition. It is more about an adventure, a learning experience and a resume booster. I just feel at some point fate takes over in these matters and it is “out of our hands”. If the board tried to manipulate who the winners are I think we would cause even more controversy and hurt feelings. I’m not a fan of competitions, even when our sons were playing sports I was happy when they won, but I always felt bad for the “other sons” on the team that lost. I’m just a big sissy, haha. Anyway, I think that all the bands that entered are winners and will go as far as they care to with their musical careers. Let’s all go to Memphis and cheer 2blu and Todd Simpson & Mojo Child on! Peace Out, CP

Posted by  on  08/03  at  10:20 AM

---

well, it seems we have a lot of opinions about the winner of our contest.  those of you who are crying over todd winning this contest are the reason why schools are having to do away with validictorians.  in your close minded opinion Stevie Ray is not blues.  well, i for one have to disagree.  this might not be your type of blues, but make no mistake; it’s blues.  since when did this “no name poster” decide what is blues?  if you want to always win the contest and always decide what should be played; start your own society with your mom and dad.  for i am sure they will always vote you as the winner.  and i am sure Robert Johnson would have been playing with a fender strat if one would have been avaliable. 

kudos to you todd.

jm

Posted by  on  08/04  at  03:13 PM

---

Unlike at least one of the “posters”, I WAS at the BBOB and I DID see all of the acts.  I saw some VERY good bands.  None of the bands were what I would consider “traditional” Blues Bands...whatever that might be.  What is a “traditional” Blues Band?  Robert Johnson...BB King...Howlin Wolf?  I’m not sure.  I know that all of these gentlemen were “mavericks” and that if they were starting out today would probably be vilified in stupid blogs such as these!!  What I saw at the BBOB was some very technically proficient bands who are very talented.  None of them, however, made me want to stand up and cheer...until Todd Simpson and Mojo Child.  The energy and raw talent coming from that young man made the MAJORITY of the audience stand up and cheer.  Traditional Blues?  Maybe not.  Blues?  Oh, yeah!!  Metallica???  What are YOU smoking?  I didn’t sense that the hair shaking or anything else was anything but Todd feeling what he was playing!!  How in the world can that be a bad thing??  I would much rather watch someone feel what they were playing than watch someone sit or stand there and play each note perfectly.  Perfection is NOT the Blues!!  It is amazing to me that people will come on these comment boards and not sign their names and trash other people.  If you are such an expert of the Blues...where was your band?  Or...was your band there and you didn’t win?  Could it be sour grapes?  I don’t think anyone needs worry about Todd and Mojo Child going to Memphis.  If he doesn’t win...then he has achieved what every other band sent from Alabama has achieved!!  If he did win...are these same trash talkers going to have their same tune??  To Todd Simpson and Mojo Child...don’t even pay attention to these posts.  Just keep playing and feeling that music.  I’ll be buying your CD very soon!!  Good Luck in Memphis!!!

dmorrison

Posted by  on  08/06  at  12:07 PM

---

question for Morrison: Who did you go there to see and how many Battle Of The Blues Bands have you attended.

I ask the same question of Mr Simpson & Mrs Turner.

How many of these events have you attended - They have one every year - How did you feel about last year’s winner...?

What is the last blues show you attended that did not invovle your sons.

I don’t think any of you have a clue about blues but that’s not my problem.

I mean no disrepect to Todd or any contestants but just talking about the ones without a clue defending anybody.

Those are the type of people that ruin blues music by trying to say it incooperates or Robert Johnson would be playing a Strat.

You don’t even know who Robert Johnson was you just heard the name.

Get a clue before you start posting stuff you know nothing about.

Posted by  on  08/06  at  03:01 PM

---

To “witheld”...if you are such an expert on the Blues, why can’t you sign your name and say who you are so everyone else can know how smart you are?  I certainly DO know and HAVE known who Robert Johnson was.  I certainly do not need some anonymous trash talker telling me who anyone is.  And yes...you do mean disrepect to those you trash...that’s why you do it.  If I’m not mistaken, Blue Light Special was last year’s winner and was also one of the bands this year.  I thought that they were very good. Why do you assume that everyone else who has made a post is ignorant about the Blues or was only there for a certain band?  Who made you the expert?  I should hope that Ms. Simpson (Todd’s Mom) and Ms. Chance (Daniel Turner’s Mom) WOULD defend their sons.  It is extremely unfortunate that they should even have to defend them from know-it-alls who feel they are right and everyone else is wrong.  These are young men who are just starting their music careers.  I believe that they both have long, successful careers in their futures.  That is...if they ignore people who think they know everything...but won’t even give constructive criticsm...only anonymous trash talk.  Perhaps you should take your own advice...and stop posting “stuff” YOU know nothing about.  Because, so far, I’ve seen nothing to indicate that you have a clue about anything either!!

Posted by  on  08/06  at  04:59 PM

---