Mardi Gras Tuneup Party

Those needing a little lift from winter's doldrums can get an injection of New Orleans energy tonight (Jan. 30) at the Mardi Gras Tuneup Party at Callahan's Music Hall in Auburn Hills (www.atcallahans.com). The festivities will feature zydeco music by C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band. Chenier is an accordianist, like his late father, the legendary Clifton Chenier. Tickets are only $13-$15 and Callahan's is a great place to see live music. For info, call (248) 858-9508. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Airplay chart/Planet D Nonet EP release party

Planet D Nonet

Recordings by several Detroit acts are currently on the Michigan: Roots Radio Airplay Chart posted by Roots Music Report.

“Blues Nation” (BMB Records),  by Luther Badman Keith, is ranked No. 4 and the top blues album currently on the chart.

Planet D Nonet has two recordings currently charting: “Blowin’ Away the Blues” at No. 6 and “Blowin’ Away the Blues (Vol. 2)” at No. 9. Both are on Eastlawn Records.

Planet D Nonet, with guest vocalist Dan Devins, is having an EP release party for "Blowin Away the Blues (Vol. 2)" from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13 at the Oak Park Public Library, 14200 Oak Park Blvd.

The EP contains jump blues and other blues-related party music. Devins, on loan from the Back Door Blues Band, delivers four tracks by the likes of T-Bone Walker and Louis Jordan. Trombonist John “T-Bone” Paxton sings one by Louis Jordan as well. A swinging R&B baritone sax/ trombone instrumental rounds out the set.

Other members of Planet D Nonet include Justin Jozwiak, Jim Holden, Joshua James, James O’Donnell, Kenny Robinson, Dave Gadd, Bill MacLeod and  RJ Spangler.

Johnnie Bassett’s “The Gentleman is Back” (Sly Dog Records) is charting at No. 8. Others on the chart include Motor City Josh with “Forty Four – A Tribute to Howlin’ Wolf” (Ford Music Co.) at No. 11, Pete Anderson’s “Even Things Up” (Little Dog) at No. 12, David Gerald’s fine “Hell and Back” (David Gerald Enterprises) at No. 13, and Mr. B’s Joybox Express Quartet with “Mr. B’s Joybox Express Quartet Live!” (Megawave) at No. 14.

Roots Music Report compiles radio airplay data reported online from radio station DJs around the globe that play all forms of roots music, so that each week you can see which independent artists are being played the most, by what stations and where the artists call home.

To see the Michigan chart, click here.

To send info to JB Blues, e-mail joe.ballor@dailytribune.com.

Ferndale Blues Festival

Sweet Claudette will perform Friday at AJ's Music Cafe as part of the Ferndale Blues Festival.

With the depth of the blues music talent pool in the Detroit area, I’ve never understood why some venues in the Ferndale Blues Festival book rock groups, jazz artists or “blues for a day” bands. It’s been happening ever since the festival started.

The featured entertainer at this year’s Rockin’ Blues BBQ Rib Burn Out on Feb. 5, for example, is country group the Hunter Brooks Band. Other artists scheduled to perform during the “blues” festival include folk rockers The Luddites, jazz artists Sean Blackman and Wayne Gerard, and funk rockers Duende. All fine acts, but not blues performers.

That being said, there are plenty of authentic Detroit blues performers scheduled to appear at the festival, which runs Saturday through Feb. 6 with more than 60 concerts at two dozen venues throughout Ferndale.

A few personal favorites include the Barbara Payton Blues Band (Feb. 2 at Rosie O’Grady’s), Luther Badman Keith (Jan. 28 at Howe’s Bayou and Jan. 29 and Feb. 4 at Buffalo Wild Wings), Howard Glazer (solo on Jan. 29 at Howe’s Bayou and with the EL 34s on Feb. 3 at Buffalo Wild Wings and Feb. 4 at Como's), Brett Lucas (Jan. 30 at Club Bart), Sweet Claudette (Jan. 28 at AJ’s Music Café), the Pete “Big Dog” Fetters Band (Feb. 5 at the Ferndale Elks Club), Carl Henry (Jan. 28 and Feb. 4 at Sneakers), John Latini (Feb. 4 at Howe’s Bayou), and recent Detroit Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Award winner Bobby Murray (Feb. 5 at Woodward Avenue Brewers). To see a complete schedule, click www.ferndalebluesfestival.org.

There will be “blue pig” piggybanks at venues around town, where patrons can make donations. All proceeds benefit Ferndale Youth Assistance and the Michigan AIDS Coalition.

To see a video of Oakland County Commissioner Craig Covey speaking about the festival, click here.

To send info to JB Blues, e-mail joe.ballor@dailytribune.com.

'Blues Nation' charting

Luther Badman Keith reports that his new CD, "Blues Nation,"  has made the Michigan music charts. "Blues Nation" is ranked No. 9, based on airplay by Michigan radio stations, according to the latest Roots Music listings. Go to www.rootsmusic.com and click into the state listings for details.

Check a previous JB Blues post for more info.

 To send information to JB Blues, please e-mail joe.ballor@dailytribune.com

Fundraiser for Rusty Wright Band

Rusty Wright Band

At 8 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 22), Callahan’s Music Hall, 2105 South Blvd. in Auburn Hills, is hosting a concert and send off party for the Rusty Wright Band. The band will head for Memphis on Feb. 1 to represent the Detroit Blues Society in the Blues Foundation’s 27th Annual International Blues Challenge.

Advance tickets are only $5 and can be purchased securely online at www.rustywrightband.com (no service fees) or from Callahan’s web site http://www.atcallahans.com/. Proceeds from ticket sales will assist the band with travel expenses for the five-day event.

The Detroit Blues Society recently awarded the Rusty Wright Band and Detroit Blues Challenge solo/duo winner Travelin' Blues with generous checks to assist with expenses in Memphis. 

“For more than six years we have been working to develop our music and our live act and the blues societies here in Michigan have always been very supportive and helpful over the years,” said Laurie LaCross-Wright, singer with Rusty Wright Blues. “Doors are starting to open for us now all over the world but we always remember it was the Detroit Blues Society who gave us our first festival performance slot. This is one group of folks who have been supportive of everything we have done and we will always be grateful for that.”

Charles “Buddy” Smith and The Resurrected will perform live in concert at 6:30 p.m. today (Jan. 19) at the Southfield Public Library, in the Southfield Municipal Complex, 26300 Evergreen Road.

Smith fronts a group of seasoned Detroit musicians who have recorded with many top Motown singers and have over 200 combined years of musical experience.Smith’s recordings include “Resurrection,” with Eric Goebel, on Detroit’s No Cover Productions label, and “Rhythm Sermon,” a spoken-word performance. Smith also sang on the recently released Planet D Nonet album “Blowin’ Away the Blues.”

Admission is $3. Children under 12 are admitted free. For more info, call (248) 796-4224 or click www.southfieldlibrary.org.

At 7 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 21), catch the RJ Spangler Trio with singer Alberta Adams, Detroit’s “Queen of the Blues,” at the Arab/American National Museum in Dearborn. For info, click www.arabamericanmuseum.org

To send info to JB Blues, e-mail joe.ballor@dailytribune.com

Bobby Murray, Willie D. Warren honored

Bobby Murray

Blues guitarist Bobby Murray has had plenty of highlights in his musical career. The Ferndale resident added another honor this weekend as he was selected by the Detroit Blues Society as a recipient of the group’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I found out Sunday morning. I was pleasantly surprised and somewhat overwhelmed as a matter of fact,” said Murray, who lives in Ferndale with his wife, two dogs and two cats. “It didn’t get me out of chores though.”

Murray is perhaps best known for his 20-plus years as guitarist with legendary singer Etta James. Murray also fronts his own Bobby Murray Band and has released three recordings, with another one planned for 2011.

Born in Nagoya, Japan, to an Irish father and Japanese mother, Murray, age 57, grew up in a military family, eventually landing in Tacoma, Washington. He went to high school with Robert Cray and they formed a band together that became Robert Cray and the Crayolas.

Many years later, Murray performed with Cray and B.B. King on the song “Playing with My Friends,” from King’s Grammy Award-winning album “Blues Summit.”

Murray performed with guitar great Albert Collins off and on for 20 years. He has also shared the stage or recorded with Albert King, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Guitar Watson, Lowell Fulson, Taj Mahal, Otis Rush, Percy Mayfield, Charlie Musselwhite, Johnny Taylor, Otis Clay and Sugar Pie Desanto.

You may have heard his guitar work on the Etta James’ song “Blues is My Business,” that was used on “The Sopranos;” or seen him perform on “The Tonight Show,” “Austin City Limits” or “Late Night with David Letterman.” Other career highlights include performing with Etta James and the Roots Band at the WOMAD festival at the Barcelona Olympics and at the inaugural for President Bill Clinton.

The Lifetime Achievement Awards have been given every year since 1992 and are the highest musical honor given by the DBS. It is awarded to living and deceased musicians that have made significant contributions to Detroit blues during their careers in the business and is voted upon by all Detroit Blues Society members.

Past recipients include Son House, Sippie Wallace, Billy Davis, Bobo Jenkins, John Lee Hooker, Little Sonny, Sir Mack Rice, Lazy Lester, Alberta Adams, and Uncle Jessie White, among many others.

The DBS names two Lifetime Achievement Award winners each year, one living artist and one who is honored posthumously. This year’s posthumous honoree is singer-guitarist Willie D. Warren (1934-2000), one of Detroit’s all-time greats, who played in bands with Otis Rush and Freddie King. It was Warren who taught Guitar Slim how to play the guitar more than 50 years ago. It is also said that he was the first to play electric bass by tuning down the first four strings on his guitar. In later years, he was known for playing his 12-string hollow-body electric guitar with only six strings.

“I loved him,” Murray said. “He was a magnificent talent and one of those guys you could literally listen to one note he played and know it was him. He had that rare quality to be able to inject his musical lifetime into one note. He was a one of the world’s sweetest guys. It’s beyond an honor (being inducted in the same year). It’s kind of overwhelming and I’m a little speechless about that.”

Other posthumous nominees this year were Juanita McCray, Chicago Pete, Wild Child Butler, Baby Boy Warren, and Calvin Frazier. Other living nominees this year were Doug Deming, Jim McCarty, Kenny Miller, Kenny Parker, and Robert Penn.

“That’s a great group to be in,” Murray said. “Everyone single one of them is worthy of that award. I’m honored just to be in the running, and it was nice to win. I feel very lucky too.”

Murray moved to Michigan from California in 1996.

“I’ve been a transplant my whole life, ever since I was born,” Murray said. "I’m kind of used to it. I do consider Michigan my home and I’m honored that people thought of me as a Michigander.”

Also honored was guitarist Bryan Iglasias of the group Zerapath, who received the James S. Henry Award, which recognizes young blues musicians.

The awards will be presented on Saturday, Feb. 12 at the Detroit Blues Society monthly meeting and jam at Mr. B’s, 48550 Van Dyke in Shelby Township. There’s no cover charge.

For more information on the Detroit Blues Society, click www.detroitbluessociety.org.

MOTHERSHIP SIGHTING: Funkmaster George Clinton (Parliament/Funkadelic) was a special guest at Saturday’s DBS meeting and jam at Kelly’s Bar in Hamtramck. Clinton, who was joined by the widows of Funk Brothers bassist James Jamerson and singer-pianist Joe Weaver (Motor City R&B Pioneers), was there to promote his Mother’s Hip Connection Education Foundation, which was created to help artists and their heirs claim uncollected royalties.

To send info to JB Blues, e-mail joe.ballor@dailytribune.com.

Johnnie Bassett at Third Bar tonight

Looking for some live blues tonight (Jan. 17)? Here's an excellent option.

 

Detroit's "Gentleman of the Blues," singer-guitarist Johnnie Bassett, will be performing from 8 p.m.-midnight at Third Bar, 701 W. Forest Ave. in Detroit, at the corner of  Third Street (Anthony Wayne Drive). He'll be joined by several of Detroit's top musicians, inlcuding Skeeto Valdez (drums), Keith Kaminski (sax) and Chris Codish (keyboards). There's no cover.

 

Remember the dream of Martin Luther King Jr.

Detroit Blues Society jam

Robert Penn is one of the artists nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Detroit Blues Society.

The Detroit Blues Society monthly meeting and jam will be held tonight (Jan. 15) from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. at Kelly's Bar, 2403 Holbrook in Hamtramck . The event will feature the music of host band 7th Veil (www.myspace.com/theseventhveil). There's no cover charge.

Members of the Blues Society will be casting votes for this year's Lifetime Achievement Awards. Nominees include: (Living category) Doug Deming, Jim McCarty, Kenny Miller, Bobby Murray, Kenny Parker and Robert Penn; and (Posthumous category) Wild Child Butler, Calvin Frazier, Juanita McCray, Chicago Pete, Baby Boy Warren and Willie D. Warren.

For info on the Detroit Blues Society, click www.detroitbluesociety.org.

Luther Badman Keith releases 'Blues Nation'

Luther Badman Keith has pulled out all the stops for his new recording, “Blues Nation” (BMB Records). In his first new recording in seven years, Badman lays down a collection of self-penned, blues-infused tunes that draw from almost every element of America’s musical landscape, including blues, rock, soul and funk. There are hints of Motown flavor and Afro and Latin grooves and beats. You can hear influences ranging from Carlos Santana to Luther Allison and Chuck Berry.

“Blues is at the center of everything I do in music, but blues is a lot like hot sauce -- you can put it on almost anything and it’s gonna taste better,” Keith said in a release. “That’s why you are going to find some good old-fashioned blues songs and some songs that use the blues to rise to a whole new level.”

His back-up band on “Blues Nation” is superb. In addition to Keith on vocals and guitar, the group includes Keith Owens on rhythm guitar, Jim David on keyboards, Darryl Lee on bass and Milton “Heavyfoot” Austin on drums. The horn section features Mark Croft (trumpet) and Billy Furman (saxophone, harmonica), and percussionist Mike Racette adds Latin flavors. 

The Badman has also assembled an impressive list of guest artists, including multiple Detroit Music Award winner Paul Miles (who interacts with Keith on the rousing “Talking Old Bluesmen”), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members The Original Vandellas (Rosalind Holmes and Annette Helton), and background vocalists Jaki G and Champagne Page. One song, “Nose Wide Open,” was recorded live at the now defunct Memphis Smoke nightclub and features the late James Payton on saxophone.

On the title track, “Blues Nation,” Keith takes the listeners on a sonic journey across the United States.

“When you think about it, we are, in fact a blues nation, from Atlantic to Pacific and even beyond,” Keith said. “We wanted to capture that spirit in the song. It’s a song for blues lovers and people who love any kind of American music.”

Keith will celebrate the release of “Blues Nation” at several upcoming events, including shows at 8 and 10:30 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 15) at historic Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, 20511 Livernois in Detroit (313-345-6300), $5 cover; Jan. 21 at Nancy Whiskey’s, 2644 Harrison in Detroit; and Jan. 29 and Feb. 4 at Buffalo Wild Wings, 280 W. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale as part of the Ferndale Blues Festival.

OK, now stand, put your right hand over your heart, remove your hat and join in:

“I pledge allegiance to the United States of the blues. One nation, under a I-IV-V groove, with funk and freedom for all.”

For more on “Blues Nation,” click www.badmanbluz.com. 

To send info to JB Blues, e-mail joe.ballor@dailytribune.com.

Live blues music in Detroit

Matthew Ball

Typically, the Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings’ Night-notes concert series is not a haven for the blues. But, on Friday, the series will feature pianist Matthew Ball, who will tickle the ivories for “Boogie-Night-notes” at Hagopian World of Rugs, 850 S. Old Woodward, in Birmingham.

Ball left his career as an attorney to become a boogie-woogie pianist  after he was moved by the music while attending the Motor City Blues & Boogie-Woogie Festival in 2001.

On Friday, Ball will perform popular selections from early American blues and boogie-woogie piano masters, including Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson, Meade "Lux" Lewis, Professor Longhair, Dr John, James Booker, Otis Spann, and Jack Fina.

A reception begins at 8 p.m. with the music starting at 8:30. Discounted advance tickets are $22 for adults and $10 for students, and can be purchased online at www.detroitchamberwinds.org, or by calling (248) 559-2095. Admission will also be available at the door for an additional $5 per ticket.

To see a video of Matthew Ball performing, click here.

Here’s a quick look at some other shows set for the Detroit area this week:

Tonight, catch Midnight Run at the Blue Goose Inn, 28911 Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores (586-296-0950). On Thursday, the Blue Goose hosts the Johnny Rhoades Band. Lil’ Stubby and the Disappointments take over at the Blue Goose on Friday and Saturday.

Also on Friday, the Delta Five Blues Band is at All That Jazz River Club, 8900 E. Jefferson, Detroit (313-331-1012); and Elektryk Gypsy is at Nancy Whiskey’s, 2644 Harrison in Detroit (313-962-4247).

On Saturday, the Detroit Blues Society Monthly Meeting and Jam is at Kelly’s Bar, 2403 Holbrook in Hamtramck. Rockin’ blues band 7^th Veil hosts.

Also Saturday, The Rockafellas are at The Phoenix Café, 24918 John R in Hazel Park (248-667-8817), $5 cover; The Hatchetmen and The Blue Collar Boys perform at Dylan’s Raw Bar, 15402 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe;  Champagne and The Motor City Blues Crew are at Bert’s, 2727 Russell St. in Detroit (313-567-2030); and the Howard Glazer & Bob Godwin Duo are at The Bar, 224 S. Main St. in Milford (248-685-7300).

Carl Henry performs a daytime gig at 1 p.m. Saturday at Butcher's Inn, 1489 Winder St. in Detroit (313-394-0120).

On Sunday, Jim McCarty and Mystery Train are at the Blue Goose; and The Dave Dionise Group performs at Soul Jazz Sunday at the Cadieux Café, 4300 Cadieux in  Detroit (313-882-8560). For some unique fun, call early and reserve a featherbowling lane.

Little Sonny heats up Anti-Freeze Blues Festival

Little Sonny jams Friday night at the Anti-Freeze Blues Festival at the Magic Bag in Ferndale. Photo by Joe Ballor.

Little Sonny serenades the crowd afer jumping down from the stage. Photo by Joe Ballor.

Those who braved the slippery driving conditions were treated to a special performance Friday night at the Anti-Freeze Blues Festival. Detroit blues legend Little Sonny, King of the Blues Harmonica, took to the stage for the first time in two years and delivered an entertaining mix of funky blues and  a few interesting stories about his life. Little Sonny dedicated his performance to musical royalty – the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin; and Detroit’s Queen of the Blues, Alberta Adams; who was under the weather and missed the show. Little Sonny, 78 years young, performed with the energy of a man 30 years his younger, and jumped down from the stage on more than one occasion to serenade the crowd. Although he said he had "a bit of a cold," his voice was in fine form and his harmonica playing was, as always, superb. He gave it everything he had, even showing off some slick dance moves. Little Sonny was backed by a fine four-piece band, including his sons Aaron Willis Jr. on guitar and Anthony Willis on six-string bass. It was a performance to remember. Also on the bill Friday were Mr. B, Bill Kirchen, and RJ’s Rhythm Rockers with Garfield Angove and Jeff Grand. The festival continues tonight (Saturday, Jan. 8) with The Blasters, Laith Al-Saadi, Motor City Josh and Black Beauty. Tickets are $25 and proceeds benefit the Detroit Blues Society. For information, call (248) 544-3030 or click www.themagicbag.com or www.detroitbluessociety.org.

To see a video of Little Sonny discussing his philosophy of life, click here.

Little Sonny -- King of the Blues Harmonica

Little Sonny

Aaron “Little Sonny” Willis was raised in a single parent home by his mother and grandmother in tiny rural Cassimore, Ala. When he and his wife Maggie started their own family, he was determined to provide his children with the positive male role model he never had the opportunity to experience.

Little Sonny always put his family first, even if it cost him an occasional booking. He and his wife Maggie raised four children in the Detroit home he has lived in for 41 years. Two of Little Sonny’s children – Aaron Willis Jr. (guitar) and Anthony Willis (bass) – now perform in the band with their father.

Little Sonny learned his life philosophy from his mother, Elmira Willis, and grandmother, Elizabeth Rainer, a midwife of at least partial American Indian heritage who delivered Little Sonny on Oct. 6, 1932.

“They were my foundation,” Little Sonny said during an interview at his Detroit home Jan. 4, 2011. “They were the two people who instilled in me who I am. It all comes from a supreme being first, and then to them and to me. It’s been instilled into you like a camera. All you have to do is put it in focus. My mother always told me, ‘Son Boy, it don’t cost nothing to smile.’ I always try to keep a good attitude.

“My mother always taught me, ‘You just do what you have to do in life. Do good work and the work will stand for you.’ She told me, ‘A good person is a good person, and you judge them that way, not by the color of their skin. You judge them by the content of their character.’ ”

It was Little Sonny’s mother who helped start him off on his career, by purchasing a five-cent toy plastic harmonica as a Christmas present for the child she affectionately called “Son Boy.” He used to listen to the Grand Ol’ Opry on the radio and tried to copy the stylings of harmonica player DeFord Bailey, who Little Sonny assumed was white. He only learned later that Bailey was a black man.

“I started listening to him and started practicing the tone quality and the things that he was doing,” Little Sonny said. “I was playing harmonica, but baseball is what I wanted to do. I used to play shortstop. I played baseball ALL the time. I kept the harmonica, just to play for myself.”

He moved to Tuscaloosa and bought a Marine Band harmonica, always keeping it in his pocket, but still playing just for fun.

After moving to Detroit, Little Sonny changed his career focus when he discovered the money that could be made as a musician. He realized his earning potential after watching Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) perform at a Detroit nightclub.

“He’s the guy who really inspired me” to play professionally. “When I saw this guy playing and making money at it, I thought, ‘Hey, if this guy can do it, I can do it.’ ”

Little Sonny worked at a used car lot during the day and augmented his earnings by taking Polaroid photos and selling them to nightclub patrons in the evenings. He started his own performing career by filling in with bands led by Eddie Burns and Washboard Willie, although at first he knew only one song, “I’m a Man,” by Bo Diddley. Eventually, a club owner offered Sonny a gig with the band Washboard Willie and His Super Suds of Rhythm, paying $10 a night three days a week -- big money in those days.

After a falling out with Washboard Willie over money, bandmates Mr. Bo (guitar) and Charles “Chuck” Smith (piano) convinced Little Sonny that he could be a bandleader on his own. The three young musicians all left Washboard Willie’s group, and, along with drummer Jim Due, formed a group that became known as Little Sonny and the Rhythm Rockers.

“That taught me to treat musicians fair,” Little Sonny said. “He made a mistake and I learned from it.”

Little Sonny, left, and John Lee Hooker are pictured in front of Joe's Record Shop at 3530 Hastings Street in Detroit in 1959.  Joe's, which was run by Joe Von Battle, included a recording studio with releases on JVB, Von and Battle labels. 

Over the years, Little Sonny played or appeared on bills with many blues legends, including John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, and Howlin’ Wolf. A poster from Little Sonny’s extensive collection (he saves everything) describes a “Battle of the Blues” with B.B. King and Little Sonny on Monday Sept. 7, 1959 at Prince Hall, at Gratiot and MacDougall in Detroit. He also recorded several LPs, including three released on Enterprise/Stax during the early 1970s (“Black & Blue” featured backing by the Bar-Kays), and toured and played at festivals (including the 1972 Ann Arbor Jazz and Blues Festival, which was recorded live), but he did most of his work playing nightclubs in the Detroit area, so that he could return home to his family each night. Little Sonny always tried to treat his band members right. As a consequence, his backup musicians included many of Detroit’s top session musicians, including legendary bassist James Jamerson and guitarist Eddie Willis of Motown’s Funk Brothers fame.

Little Sonny, now 78, has been semi-retired for years, following the death of his beloved wife 16 years ago. He last performed in public two years ago at a tribute to his longtime friend Eddie Burns, who is ailing.

Little Sonny headlines Friday on the first night of the two-day Anti-Freeze Blues Festival at the Magic Bag in Ferndale. Also on the bill will be Mr. B, Bill Kirchen and Detroit’s Queen of the Blues, singer Alberta Adams, with RJ & the Rhythm Rockers and special guest guitarist Jeff Grand. Saturday’s lineup includes The Blasters, Laith Al Saadi, Motor City Josh and Black Beauty. Tickets are $25. Proceeds benefit the Detroit Blues Society. For more information, call (248) 544-3030 or click www.themagicbag.com.

The Muggs -- 'Born Ugly'

The Muggs

It's been a busy year for The Muggs. The rockin' blues trio spent much of the year touring out of state, with stops in llinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. In August, the band also released a music video of the song "Slow Curve," from the group's second LP, "On With the Show." A DVD package available on The Muggs' website (www.themuggs.com) includes "Slow Curve" recorded live at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit; "Laying It Down", a 16-minute documentary of the Muggs in the studio recording "Slow Curve"; and a bonus live track of "Never Know Why Live" recorded at St. Andrews Hall.

Since November, the band has been working with producer Jim Diamond at his Ghetto Recorders studio. Bassist Tony DeNardo reports that mixing is almost done on the 13-track LP, which will be titled "Born Ugly." It is set for a spring release.

Happy new year

Happy new year to all fans of the blues, in the Motor City and around the world. Peace and health to you all.

David and Martha Adler enjoyed ringing in the new year at Pazman's Rockin' Blues NYE 2011 party at Callhan's Music Hall, courtesy of Callahan's and JB Blues.

Watch for more ticket giveaways this year.

To send info to JB Blues, e-mail joe.ballor@dailytribune.com