Starting to fill in real nice.
Been seein’ some amazing beards, most notably Austin Keller of the Howdies, and Leon Russell, the master of space and time.
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0 Blues you ough’ta know with Big Charlie: Sleepy John Estes
The Narcoleptic Bluesman
At the early age of six, John Adams Estes was blinded in one eye during an unfortunate sandlot baseball incident. He later lost vision in the other eye, allowing him to join the ranks of iconic blind bluesmen such as; Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Willie Johnson, Sonny Terry, and Blind Boy Fuller.
Obviously, Being Blind wasn’t the only Obstacle Sleepy John had to endure. His nickname spurs from his tendency to fall asleep while sitting on a stool or even standing up. These unintentional naps were later diagnosed as Narcolepsy, which is caused by blood pressure irregularity.
While there are no actual accounts (that I could find) of Sleepy falling asleep on-stage, I’d have to imagine when he was touring around the South playing every night, it happened at some point. Wouldn’t that be a site?
Estes was mentioned in the memoirs of Big Bill Broonzy as having judged a guitar contest in Chicago. Memphis Minnie had just recently moved to town, and found herself in a guitar duel with Big Bill. In a glorious upset Minnie beat Bill Broonzy and became wildly popular in the city’s blues circuit, all thanks to her fellow Tennessean, Sleepy . Whenever Sleepy John and his band were in Chicago they were regularly hired by Al Capone (who was crazy about the blues) and his people to play private parties and events. Now that sounds like a right proper good time to me.
- – Big Charlie
- Thank you Iain for for the recommendation. If you think you know some blues I ough’ta know E-mail me at BigCharlieSkinner@Gmail.Com
2 New Radiohead Album This Saturday
The Dirty Bourbon River Show discusses the New Radiohead Album Being Released This Saturday
Finally, after 3 1/2 years of waiting, Radiohead will be releasing their 8th full-length studio album this Satuday
Unlike their last album In Rainbows (which is in my opinion their best so far, followed by Ok Computer) fans will not be able to name their own price this time. The new album – titled The King of Limbs – will be available in a variety of priced formats, ranging from $53 for 2 vinyls, cd, artwork & more to $9 for an mp3 digidownload. One lucky buyer will win a signed 2 track vinyl. Fans can view the different price formats and pre-order HERE.
I guess the real question is “will The King of Limbs be as good as In Rainbows?” I guess we’ll find out this Saturday.
0 Good Times Last Night in Mobile, AL
Good times last night at the Blind Mule in Mobile, AL. Thank you to the Howdies, the Blackjacks, and everyone else who came out – that was one rockin’ show.
Make sure and come see us in Mobile again at Callaghan’s on March 5th after the parade – we’ve got some special antics for you next time around.
Shooting a music video for “Mad” next weekend then catch us the following weekend (2/25) at the Spanish Moon in Baton Rouge with Glasgow and the Have-Naughts.
2 Mobile, AL Tonight
0 Just Another Friday in New Orleans: A Recap
Ok, so here’s my recap of the live music I saw yesterday:
~ Habitat (Wolf’s Den) = more like shit habitat
~ Miss Rail Co. (Blue Nile) = good as always, dig the new tune
~ John Lisy (12 bar) = wasn’t playing that night, they had their schedule all fucked up
~ Rough 7 (dba) = good, but Ryan Scully just doesn’t have it like he used to
And there was a surprise pick last night: along the way, I stopped off at the Maison to see Booty Trove. Playing after them was Adam & Carly’s project – Yojimbo. Definitely the most interesting thing I saw last night – groovin’ funk with a kung fu feel, shit to kick ass to. Good stuff.
~ Noah
0 Just Another Friday in New Orleans
Thinkin’ of checking out Jacky D’s new project Habitat at the Wolf’s Den, followed by some blues with either Miss Rail Co at Blue Nile or John Lisy & the Delta funk at 12 bar, followed by some Rough 7 at DBA. Got my whiskey, yup, lookin’ good. Here we go…
~ Noah
0 Let’s Grow a Beard – Week Twenty-Four
I appear to have gotten lost inside of my own beard…
1 Blues you ough’ta know with Big Charlie: Skip James and the Bentonia School
Skip James was a true Blues-man, born and trained in Bentonia, Mississippi. Bentonia is quiet little town outside of the Mississippi Delta with a rich history of producing some of the best Blues guitar players/singers.
While each one was as unique as the next, the 
Blues-men from this town all seemed to play music with an eerie, depressing feel to it, and always in minor keys. Pair that with the Skip James signature three-finger picking guitar style and an array of unique tunings (mostly in open E minor and even down to D minor) and you’ve got the Bentonia “school” of the Blues.
Here’s an example of some Bentonia Blues: Skip James singing and playing “Devil Got My Woman”
To learn a lot more about Skip James and the Blues in general click on that there guitar below
-Big Charlie
0 Jackson, MS Tonight!
416 George St. – Show starts at 10pm – Swamp Babies open
Dirty Bourbon River Show 