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Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay was quite a thrill. People with sailboats in the last row of the harbor can watch the shows from the deck of their boats. We met Jonny Lang during sound check the first day and he was kind and gracious from the first moment. The venue has very nice accommodations for the bands and I took advantage of the opportunity to have a swim in the pool and a soak in the spa. A guy could get used to that sort of treatment pretty easily. Our catered dinner was buffet style overlooking the harbor in a common room. Jonny’s family and crew were all very sweet folks. That first night I had an old friend from Lompoc as a guest. I had not seen Eric Ramirez in 22 years and it was a pleasure to hang out with him and his wife. After the show we were standing in that common room with about 15 or 20 of Jonny’s people when he walked into the room. Everyone stopped chatting and gave him a nice round of applause. One man across the room from me then said, “Outstanding!” and the fellow we were talking with told us that that was the pastor of Jonny’s church who had never seen him perform before. Someone then handed Jonny’s acoustic guitar to a handsome teenager from the church and he played and sang a beautiful original song. Then the guitar was passed to a young lady who also had a fine voice. I went next door to our dressing room to get Jackie and brought him back with his guitar. After he wowed them with a gentle solo ballad, “Sweet Somewhere Bound,” I said, “Hey Jonny, are you tired of working or wouldja like to play one for us?” He acquiesced with a big grin and sat down next to Jackie. Unfortunately, none of us had a camera. They played an instrumental tune of his together that was interesting and good. Then Jackie busted out his new up-tempo bluegrassy song, “Break Mama Break.” Hot stuff. They are both aged 22 and got along famously, if you’ll pardon the expression. The next night I had my sister-in-law, Mimi, there as a guest and that was really fun for me, too. Sound was a little better for us on the second night thanks to some fine engineering on the part of the house crew. (Thanks Sven and Tricia!)
After the show we piled into the van and headed for Bakersfield to spend what was left of the night in a motel on the way to the Strawberry Music Festival. Our friend and sometime fairy godmother, Mindy Giles, hitched a ride with us as her beau caught a ride down from Sac with Kimi and our children. Mindy had flown in to be there when we met her old friend, Ron Kaplan, for the first time. Ron is the agent with Monterey Peninsula Artists who made the decision to sign Jackie. He’s a great guy and we are really looking forward to working with him more. He told us to make a wish list of artists we would like to play with. I sent J. about 12 names last night and he wrote back that he already had all but 2 on his list. So he added Joni Mitchell and one other that escapes me at the moment. Anyway, cool, huh?
It was our first time to Strawberry and I knew I was in love when I first splashed into the lake located 150 yards from our cabin. The stage was excellent in all respects and the crowd loved us. Our set was in late afternoon on a gorgeous sunny day. Playing in the splendor of the tree-covered mountains just above Yosemite to an appreciative crowd is something I won’t soon forget. I tried to retire at 10:30pm with my family but found that I was too excited to sleep. Finally, I gave in to the urge to go explore the legendary Strawberry jam sessions at about 12:30am after hearing a Didjeridu playing in the distance. I went out and met David Blonski and had a blast jamming with him and some other fine players. Also, I met Mindy’s old friend, Terrance Simien. At his workshop the next day I was invited up to the stage to play my mandolin with that notable zydeco master and very likable fellow. We have been invited to return next Spring. Niiiice...
After our Friday & Saturday shows at Marylin’s we drove straight to Santa Cruz and only had a few hours’ sleep (thanks Dinah & Gail for the bed and breakfast!) before playing a few songs live on the air for K-PIG, 107 oink 5. I was so tired that I failed to notice that one of the players in a band waiting to go on after us was long time Doobie Brothers bassist, Tiran Porter. The Santa Cruz Allstars were there to promote their upcoming shows of the Beatles’ White Album in its entirety.
We then drove up to Oakland where Jackie presented a CAMMIE award for Outstanding Songwriter to John McRea of the band CAKE. Then, much to our surprise and delight, we won the award for Outstanding Blues/Roots Album. The award was presented by actor Dorian Wilson of the UPN sitcom The Parkers. He and I had an art class together in 7th grade at Vandenberg Junior High School. Weird, huh? After that we performed 4 songs for the audience of about 8 or 10 thousand who were gathered there outdoors in front of City Hall. Quite a week for our little band...
5/12/03
Our trip to Hollywood last month to play some showcases for record companies was a success in spite of the absence of our drummer, Ben. He was taken ill with a sudden asthma attack and had to be hospitalized but is doing fine now. We think some offers may be forthcoming.
In the meantime, Jackie is officially signed to the prestigious booking agency called Monterey Peninsula Artists.
4/3/03
Last night Jackie picked up a Critics' Choice SAMMIE Award for Guitarist and the band won for Outstanding Blues Group. Thanks to all who voted! Now, let's all remember to vote for the CAMMIES, okay?
3/20/03
Jackie Greene's "Gone Wanderin'" has been nominated for a California Music Award along with Elvin Bishop, Dave Alvin, and Tommy Castro for Outstanding Blues/Roots Album of the year.
3/2/03
Jackie Greene Band returns from one week tour
Flew home from Austin yesterday. The trip was incredible. Jackie did a fine interview with Web Wilder from XM Radio's studio within the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. We got a standing ovation at the Belcourt Theatre. Word is that it is not an easy town in which to impress people with your music, to put it mildly, so we were blown away. Such a high level of top-notch talent there. Met some really nice folks from Monterey Peninsula Artists, the agency that booked the tour.
We drove a rental van from there to Dallas through dangerous icy road conditions that left many stranded in their cars for over 12 hours. It looked as though we might have had to cancel the Dallas show but we made it from Little Rock, Arkansas Thursday morning.
At the Gypsy Tea Room, once again, we were very well received. So well, in fact, that a tall, blonde beauty jumped up on the stage and played air guitar in front of me for several moments before security yanked her off. Susan Tedeschi invited Jackie onstage with her band to play his harp on a tune.
On to Austin to play La Zona Rosa on Friday. The Austin Statesman ran a nice blurb about the show last Thursday which read,"Susan Tedeschi is the headliner but the headturner should be 22 year old Jackie Greene..." During our sound check the fog machine was activated and almost scared Ben off his throne. Being from California we are not used to such smokey rooms. Anyway, we did well and got an encore. Jimmie Vaughan sat in with Susan and Chris Layton was also there to visit. These fellas were just as kind and cool to hang with as you could possibly imagine. If I looked up the word "cool" in the dictionary I wouldn't be surprised to see a picture of Jimmie standing next to it. I also had the honor of having some Texan family members there to see me and that was a real joy.
We just got a date to play at the Strawberry Music Festival May 22. Also, we are scheduled to appear at the Redwood Run in July and the San Francisco Blues Festival in September.
It looks as though the good Lord has decided it's time for my dreams to become reality.
Peace,
Hence
p.s. Special thanks to:
Mindy Giles, our tour manager. She is quite simply amazing.
Billy Harper Jr, our road manager. He did all the hard stuff.
In Nashville:Lisa Shively for logistical help and dinner at Rotiere, Anne Nabors for making me feel at home at the Belcourt, Bob Goldstone for showing us some real love at Tower Records, Web for the wonderful experience at XM Radio, Howard and Scott for great sound work.
In Dallas:Ed from City Hall Records for showing us a fantastic place to eat and helping us improve our phony NYC accents.
In Austin:Hazmat and Cassie, LZR engineers who were a blast to work with, our host at the club (whose name escapes my jet lag-addled brain at the moment) for embracing us so fully.
Throughout:George Johnson, Susan's stage manager, for helping us so generously all the time just because he wanted to, and William Green, Susan's Hammond B-3 genius, for showing us how to be free onstage.
Ah, and let's not forget the man that put it all together, our manager Marty DeAnda. You da man, Chief!
As for Jackie and Ben...fuggeddaboudit.
photo: Hence Phillips
Susan Tedeschi and Jimmie Vaughan at La Zona Rosa
photo: Billy Harper, Jr.
Chris Layton, Hence, Jackie Greene, and Jimmie Vaughan
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