I chatted to Frank at the bar of Jimmy Dean's about Papa Legba, who I had just seen do a solid, impressive set at the South Adelaide Football Club supporting the Bondi Cigars. He was still catching his breath, it was a little warm. I was fairly complimentary, the sound was great. Frank’s and Sav’s voices were strong and clear above the solid rhythm and superb guitar. We talked about what he hopes to convey with his recent incarnation. 

Normally JF is right up front with us. We want the audience to feel like part of the band, up close, like your in a juke joint some where along the Mississippi or deep south. Raw, honest, simple dance hall blues with some tunes you know, others dug from obscurity, a Memphis shuffle here, a tinge of rockabilly, and a touch of Voodoo. 

And about the live DVD about to be released?…

In the setting of the finest blues venue in Australia the stage is aligned with Sav, Frank, John and right up front, John on a stripped down kit sets the tone with his beautiful restraint. This is up close, it’s raw and tasty performed by stalwarts of the Adelaide blues scene.

The DVD, 'Feels So Good, Rockin' and Swinging' with Papa Legba' is nicely packaged, with funky art work by the talented Marie Gudic and is finely captured on both film by Derek and Zoom recorder by Frank at the  SWC.  From the opening track ‘Call it Stormy Monday’ through the standout instrumental of Comin' and Goin", where Sav shines and throughout the whole set, a good natural live sound with some tasty editing by Akaroy Films and at least 3 camera positions with nicely placed close ups and transitional shots. You can almost feel like you are in the band.

We get a cameo from Dave as he encourages the band into their encore, ‘Feels so Good’ and it does, (my favourite track on the disc) and as they release themselves from their instruments amongst applause Dave pipes in “who says old fellas can’t do it!” Well they certainly can!

This is as close as it gets to a Friday night or Sunday arvo at the SWC. There should be a whole series of these DVDs of bands playing the Club, for those days when you just can’t make it down.

Tracks in order and easily navigated through a neat menu are: Call it Stormy Monday, Comin' and Goin', Homework, I had my Fun, Hidden Charms, Let's Play House, Love me Right and Feel so Good.

Two launch dates are planned where you can purchase the DVD for a mere $10
Saturday the 4th. March, at the bluesy Bridgewater Inn.
Sunday the 5th. March at the Semaphore Workers Club.

Legendary Bondi Cigars were back to play Adelaide both at the Jimmy Deans and the Gov. I heard it was a top night at the Gov, supported by JJ Fields, with a supportive crowd so I was keen to catch them along with Chris Finnen at their next gig, The South Adelaide Football Cub.

Over 220 Blues enthusiasts descended on ‘Jimmy Deans’, top room of the South Adelaide Club.
There were good bar facilities, the three bar staff flat out serving as people were settling into the large table seating and leaning against walls talking the Blues, a lot of familiar faces and excitement in the air.

Bondi Cigars need no introduction, an Iconic Australian blues band led by the great Shane Pacey. 
Special guest was to be Chris Finnen Electric Guitarspeak, but unfortunately due to Chris’s ill health, were unable to open the show. Chris had a lot of supporters there, yet disappointment turned to hollers and hoots of approval as Papa Legba featuring Sav, Frank and John ably held their own with gritty raw and tightly played old school deep south blues.
John Freeman played tight and reserved as usual and kept the band swinging along with Frank’s solid, spacious bass and clear commanding vocals. Sav’s traditional blues guitar mastery along with his fine voice appeared at its best in this tight three piece but it was just a little too hot on stage (no fan) and with shortness of time they couldn’t appease with an encore, although the crowd was calling for more.
​

​Well we are back in the land of Oz after an amazing journey and experience we will never forget. Memphis TN and the USA, this January and February just passed.

I gotta say the IBC was a blast and whilst I’m still not convinced in music being competitive, my experience was never the less an enjoyable and positive one. I would definitely encourage any old or new and upcoming blues artist(s) to enter. The gains you will acquire in developing your craft, career and exposure to a wider audience is priceless.

For me, I was able to return to my beloved USA once again, with my best friends and music compadre’s Nikko and Dennis. Without entering the Memphis competition, it would have been years before any of this could have come to fruition, not to mention saving the funds to plan such a trip. Without the Memphis comp it may not of even come about and might have just been a dream or a talking point over a few beers at one of our BBQ gatherings.

It wasn’t just about the competition and taking out the grand prize trophy...no not at all. It was purely about the music, representing South Australian blues music and doing my fans and family proud. Whilst we didn’t make the finals, the people we met along the way from all around the globe, sharing music, exchanging stories and CD’s, and just hanging out with like-minded souls is something I’ll never forget.

​We met some great life-long friends at the IBC and there’s now talks about returning to do some other tours there in the future off the back of this experience and outside of the IBC.
Just to play in front of an international audience alongside international artists, was just amazing and well worth the 17-hour flight, turbulence and Dennis’ snoring...haha. Wait a minute Dennis doesn’t usually snore!

The trip to Memphis is one I’ll never forget, yes I’d performed in the US previously in 2013 but that trip was more about the blues pilgrimage bag and getting a feel for the place I’ve grown to love. This time it was more about sharing previous experiences with friends and experiencing new ones such as the 3500km road trip from San Francisco, through Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, Texas and finally to the IBC in Memphis. Without the competition I’m certain this experience would have remained a dream and may never have eventuated.
Entering the competition also sparked and assisted us in leaving earlier to explore San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and finally Memphis. We performed in Fremont CA with the great Delmark guitarist Johnny Burgin and harpist Aki Kumar which was a blast and are now new musical comrades. Hanging with the great Denny Freeman in Austin is always a pleasure and catching up with old friends in Austin was amazing. 
I gotta say, randomly meeting Johnny Moeller of the Fabulous Thunderbirds at the bar in C-Boys was also a highlight. He’s a great bloke and we chatted about music, food and all great things.

​Finally embarking on Memphis was fabulous catching the king of Beale Street, Preston Shannon and witnessing one of my all-time hero’s the ‘Bishop Al Green’ preaching and singing the gospel at his Sunday morning mass. Unbelievable - I will never forget that experience.

The IBC brings like-minded people together who love their blues and whilst all the acts aren’t everyone’s jar of whisky, there were certainly some amazing performers and also heavy weight players of the likes of Alabama Mike and Anson Funderburg who came to Nikko and Snooks’ second IBC performance, which was an inspiration.

On our last night we were walking down Main street Memphis when I spotted Daddy Mack, a real deal bluesman, through a window in a hole in the wall café and called the crew up ahead of me to come back. We went in and what followed was a blessing. Not only did we witness a real deal stellar performance by Daddy Mack (pictured), but we met the owner Judy Preiser, a writer, photographer, historian and Memphis native. Of Jewish descent and now in her 70s, she was a wealth of knowledge and personally knew the likes of BB King, Al Green, to name a few. 
Using a term Judy often would use explaining an experience or musician, she “kicks ass” and is up with one of the coolest people I’ve ever met which includes, Jimmie Vaughan, Denny Freeman, Emmylou Harris and Nick Lowe.
Judy is a cat and is a one of a kind. Be sure to introduce yourself, friends, if you make it to Memphis, but y’all gotta enter the Memphis comp first to make your odds even better. Visit http://www.southernfolklore.com/ for mo’ info on Judy’s cool joint!!

​What an amazing opportunity we had to compete in the 2017 IBC!
 
Our journey started from the Adelaide heats last year where we won the right to compete, that in itself was something we were grateful for, given the incredible quality of acts we were up against. From there we spent six months preparing ourselves for the event. We made the decision very early that regardless how far through the comp we ultimately got it would be our goal to use this opportunity to improve as a band. So pretty much everything we did including our set list, arrangements, stage appearance, and presentation was put under the microscope and improved...some things stuck, some didn't but ultimately it was through the journey and as a result of the IBC we made great steps forward. What helped significantly was being open to constructive criticism from people we trusted...it's easy to rest on the things you're doing well but not so easy to embrace the things that can be improved...but again, we chose to use this opportunity to take all advice and opinions on board objectively.
​

​On the Saturday prior to the IBC we were fortunate to arrange a showcase at the famous Bourbon St Blues Club in Nashville. This was a great night and proved very helpful going into the comp the following week...it was then onto Memphis, the home of the blues!!
Beale Street itself is a fascinating place, pretty much every second door takes you into a blues venue where you'll see either a full live band or acoustic show day or night. Imagine Hindley Street with just blues acts and you'd be about right!
 
As with all acts coming from a non USA society we had our international showcase on the Wednesday afternoon at the world renowned Rum Boogie...this too was a great warm up. Then it was onto our heats Wednesday and Thursday nights. Pretty much you're put into a room with nine other bands and judged over the two nights with four bands going through to the semifinals. We won through to the semis which was simply amazing for us and ARBA. The semis on Friday night were a far more difficult proposition, the quality of the acts obviously went up a notch as did the support for each of the acts. Our support was fantastic, especially from Gaylene and Brian who made the trip (thanks guys!). Unfortunately we didn't go through to the eight act final though the feedback from the judges indicated we were very close, nevertheless the semi was a wonderful night and we gained a huge amount from getting that far through the competition. As a semi finalist we were able to make some amazing contacts with publishers, labels and industry people in general.

The ability to network with like-minded people was amazing. For those going to the comp in the future you must make the most of this opportunity and take business cards, music samplers and the like...but a word of warning, be careful if you intend to sell merch as its illegal without the correct visa.
​

​Possibly the most impressive thing outside the music itself was visiting the Civil Rights Museum the morning of the final. This is located at the Lorraine Hotel, the site of the assassination of Martin Luther King...it's simply an astonishing place. The museum takes you on a journey from the start of the Atlantic slave trade right through the entire struggle of emancipation and concludes at the rooms and on the balcony where the infamous shooting took place. What impacted us from our visit was gaining a better understanding of our (and all lovers of blues) responsibility to promoting the blues as a cultural struggle rather than just an art. Simply put, the blues is the fruit of 500 years of slavery, dare we ever forget that.
 
We can't emphasise enough the importance of being a part of our association ARBA. We have something truly unique in SA as most associations don't or can't raise enough funds to send their winners to Memphis with all expenses paid. Through the generosity and hard work of Mick Young and all the fabulous team at ARBA we have this opportunity and should embrace it, support it and be a part of it.
 
The Associates. 
Stephen Portolesi
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The South Australian Qualifier for the IBC, The 2017 ARBA Memphis Blues Challenge is open to the end of February. Time is running out, to register your act and compete for the chance of a lifetime. Click the link for details and you too could be where the Associates, Nikko and Snooks, Lazy Eye and Mick Kidd & Dave Blight have trod.

​Spend some time listening to the music of Mud Morganfield and you’ll hear something familiar. And it all makes sense when you connect the dots that he’s the eldest son of Blues great McKinley Morganfield, otherwise known as Muddy Waters.
 
Mud Morganfield grew up surrounded by music, and particularly the Blues, and he’s played music all of his life, starting with the drums his dad gave him as a child, then moving on to the bass guitar.
 
Possessing a baritone voice very much like his father’s, and blessed with similar vocal phrasing and a sense of how to command a stage, Morganfield cut his teeth on the southside of Chicago and soon became a popular draw on the Blues club and festival circuit; mixing both original songs and Muddy Waters classics into his live sets.
 
Morganfield has described the resemblance of the tone and timbre of his voice to that of his father’s voice as a double-edged sword. The similarity is evident in For Pops: A Tribute To Muddy Waters, an album on which Morganfield performs several Muddy Waters songs. This album won a Blues Music Award in the ‘Traditional Blues Album’ category in 2015.
 
Morganfield’s inclusion of Muddy Waters songs in his performance is a way of singing his love and pride of his father. He says,
 
“I’m not Muddy Waters and I’m certainly not trying to be Muddy Waters. I’m Mud Morganfield but when I’m up on stage I always feel pops is there with me and it means so much that I can get on stage and keep his music alive around the world.”
 
Mud is a dynamic performer and entertainer that can command the stage, engage the crowd, and wow them with some of the best true Chicago Blues they have ever seen.
 
If you’d like more information about this show, or to schedule an interview please call Sarah Martin (08) 8340 4697 or email Sarah at publicity@thegov.com.au

MUD MORGANFIELD
The Gov | Fri 7 Apr
Tickets: $35 + Booking Fee | $70 dinner & show (2 courses)

​Doors open @ 6pm for dinner| 7:30 pm GA
Tickets available from www.thegov.com.au | www.oztix.com.au