By: Jim Jones Michigan Music Dojo Too Slim and the Taildraggers Concert Review First of all…great night of music! This was my first time out to Indian Barry’s http://216.234.119.181/indian%20barry's/ , but definitely not my last…. Was a great set-up for live music…. Great bar out front with pool tables, and a large room in the back with a nice sized stage, with great sound and lighting systems! The only thing missing was the big crowd, which certainly had much to do with the tornadoes, thunder storms and hail, and power outages which were coming through the area. First class establishment all the way… Good job Barry!
Next, I have to give props to Barry from BayCityMusic.com http://baycitymusic.com/default.aspx He did a remarkable job bringing three fantastic local acts to the stage along with a very engaging performance from the national act, Too Slim and the Taildraggers from Seattle, WA. If you haven’t seen Barry’s website, be sure to check it out. It really is a great place for staying current with what’s going on music wise in the Bay City area.
Now on to the music….
The first act was the Thunderchickens http://thethunderchickens.net/ . What a refreshing original sound! It’s not often you see a band of this quality as the opening act for a four band concert…. And it won’t be long before they are headlining beyond the confines of our little area. They are that good. The lead singer (slash violin slash hap slash tambourine slash kick-**** performer) Mel absolutely steals the show, grabs your attention with a hint of Shakira hips. For sure, she uses all of her natural tools, but it would all mean nothing if not for her amazing voice! The guitar player was without pic or shoes, but absolutely massaged the music from his instrument. The drummer was solid and the bass player was rather stoic, but laid down a nice bass line. By the way, my drummer would probably kick my **** if I tried to stand on top of his bass drum (may have something to do with me being 6’7’’, 300#). Great show! I will definitely be in attendance to one of their many upcoming performances.
The next act was Quinn Keon http://quinnkeon.com/ … a self proclaimed Nugent disciple and an absolute guitar master. Quinn has great stage presence and assaults your senses with a constant array of hard driving rock music! Speaking as a guitarist myself, watching Quinn play was like getting a free (well, $7 at the door would have been a bargain at twice the price) guitar lesson. He gets a very classic tone from his 5150 and Peavey rig. The bass player was definitely a guitar player playing bass, but did a great job keeping up with Quinn’s lightning chops. I think I insulted the drummer before the show by telling him that he looks like a bass player (hey, I’m married to a bass player – so no offense intended), but he is definitely a kick-**** drummer...no doubt about it! I look forward to seeing him around. Nice show!
Scott Baker and the Universal Expressions http://www.scottbakermusic.com/ rounded out the night of local artists. They were well worth the wait! A melted blend of Rock, Blues and Jazz to make up a cool fondue of soulful blues sound. These guys are very easy on the ears and you can’t help but to tap your feet and bob your head. Scott was playing from a nice sounding Line 6 and was masterful with the Wah. I truly thoroughly Scott’s efficiency of notes and the bands playing cohesion was masterful. These guys were very tight… especially the last tune (sorry I forget the name, but I want the CD). The keyboardist/guitarist was solid and the bass and drums were right on! The drummer was solid and kept everyone tight all night. You have to check these cats out…they’re that good, and they’re right in your own back yard. Check out their website, but I think their MySpace site is probably more up to date.
Last up was the national act, Too Slim and the Taildraggers http://www.tooslim.org/ . Not much to say, other than these guys was everything I expected and more! Although originating from Seattle, WA, they bring a Texas Blues style which is flavored with kick-you-in-the head rock! From the moment they walk on stage, you know that they are in charge of your tapping toe and your woman’s feet as they are irresistible lured to the dance floor. They get your attention in a hurry and keep it (warning – be sure to clear your bladder before they start…..you don’t want to miss a minute). They pour on some boogie, shuffle and some slide work that leaves your soul screaming for more. You can certainly see why they are #9 on the Billboard Blues charts!
Great job everyone! I’m looking forward to more of this in the very near future!
~Jim About the Author: Jim Jones is a huge fan of music in general and live music in particular. JIm is a husband, father and friend who resides in the tri-city area and plays in the band "What About Jim?" In an effort to help cultivate live music in Michigan, Jim and his band started a music forum in an effort to unite musicians, bands, venues and fans in a common virtual community. The forum can be reached at: Michigan Music Dojo - http://michiganmusicdojo.com
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