"We are the SUFFERS, and, we're from HOUSTON!
Kam Franklin, the lead vocalist, told us to listen carefully.
And, she said, we were to shout back the answers.
Who are we?
The Suffers, we answered, er, shouted out loudly.
Where are we from?
We yelled out the city name we had been told:
Houston!
Then all 7 members of the Suffers started playing their 3rd Coast Soul Music and the crowd started some serious dancing.
I have seen dancers before at the Pour House, but this crowd of people was REALLY into this sound, a mixture of Cajun, African-American, Mexican and white,
They twisted and gyrated, bounced, and raised their arms, moving to the rhythm.
Kam really liked this response. She liked it a lot!
She was so filled with energy, it was contagious. She worked all over the stage..side to side, front and back.
The trombone playing by Michael Razo had our feet thumping to the pounding beat.
Patrick Kelly dazzled us on the keys.
Kam leaned into the crowd and the response was electric.
This was their first time playing in Charleston.
Hands raised when she asked who had heard them before. The name of a club in Houston was shouted back.
And the music played on and on.
Added lights created a great light show to add to the visual appeal and excitement.
This group, formed in 2011, has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.
And on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
As well as on The Daily Show, with Trevor Noah
So, no strangers to the appreciation of the blended mixture of cultures and music from their port city in Texas.
Their first time here in
THIS port city was a real treat for us.
I hope they will come back again and again.
Kam sang a tender love song about offering food to someone and the response they were expected to give.
The song involved her making a sandwich.
My buddy nudged me and agreed, he would want a Kam sandwich!
(Click on the photos and link for more details.)
Labels: #A Kam sandwich, #Adam Castaneda bassist, #Guitar Kevin Bernier/Alex Zamora, #Gulf Coast Soul., #Houston, #Kam Franklin, #Michael Razo, #Michael Razo trombonist, #Patrick Kelly on keys, #The Suffers
What exactly is a "Squirrel Nut Zipper?"
SNZ was created 20 years ago by leader Jimbo Mathus.
I can't find anything online that explains the name.
But,
Google knows everything, so I did find at least a description of the hot retro movement sound the band makes. Whew.
Like the big bands from the 40s, there is a Lady Singer.
She brought a Betty Boop sound and style.
Ingrid Lucia really belts it out.
She sings and struts her stuff in a most pleasing manner, with some classy costume changes.
The mostly- standing, dancing, clapping crowd at the Music Hall demonstrated she was a major part of several "Show-Stoppers."
Off to the left, the fiddle man Dr. Sick, bounced, jumped, danced and did splits as he played.
Then he really caught my attention as he sat still and played on a hand saw. Yep.
My dad was a carpenter and he had many, many saws.
He had shown me how to create undulating sounds as you hit on the twisted blade.
Pretty notes sliding up and down the scale.
The Doctor used his fiddle bow, instead of a screwdriver, to make oddly pleasing sounds.
The first time I had seen Jimbo and his "zippers" was at the Music Farm.
This hot and lively musical seance energized the crowd and I twirled among the dancing dervish fast-paced action.
Same thing happened at the Music Hall as the crowd surrendered to the compelling beat and worked itself into a frenzy.
The building still stands after the attack of the hot swing killer Squirrels.
I'm sure it was rocked to its foundations.
Many of the crowd stood in line after the show to snap up 20th-anniversary vinyl records. I knew I already had the album at home.
The opening act was a real crowd-pleaser too.
The
V-Tones 6-person band took the stage with Noodle McDoodle on amped uke and his wife Eden on snare and cymbal.
Their fiddle guy was phenomenal! Catch this Charleston uke hot jug band that plays all around town.
OK, looking at my calendar and see more bands coming up next week. I'll take a breath and try to add postings to my blog.
Thanks for stopping by. Click on the photos and links for more detail and sounds.
* Never say never. Did find a link to the
band's name origin.
Labels: Dr. Sick on fiddle, Ingrid Lucia, Jimbo Mathus, SNZ, Squirrel Nut Zippers
I was 21 ....an older college freshman
The University of San Diego was founded in 1949 and, 11 years later, I found it in 1960.
Had just finished my 3.5 years as a U.S.Marine combat photographer and was still getting used to wearing civvies.
I gratefully had accepted a scholarship at the young University as the school's first "official" photographer. The 1961 yearbook was the first for the school.
One of the first people I photographed was Senator John F. Kennedy, who had come to San Diego in 1960, campaigning to become President of the United States of America.
Just a few weeks before, I had packed up all my darkroom gear, movie camera, and Rolleiflex, left Charleston, South Carolina and headed West.
A few fellow freshmen joined me when I suggested, "
let's go see the next U.S.President."
Of course, I had my camera with me as we pushed through the crowd downtown to get closer to the platform set up on Broadway.
I recall that 56 years ago, I looked up at a policeman on the platform, told him I was the official photographer at the University, and asked if he could give me a hand getting up on the stage. The officer did.
Today is the 53rd anniversary of the assassination of the President and I have used my photo of the young man often in this blog.
Three years later, I was assigned to take his picture - as President Kennedy - when he accepted an honorary degree from San Diego State University and gave the Commencement address.
Then I was a staff photographer for the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper and really had actual credentials to be there with my camera.
He made his fateful trip to Dallas five months later.
I went back to USD on the 45th anniversary of my graduation.
One of the fellows who had gone downtown with me to "see the Presidental candidate" was at the reunion and we talked about that afternoon.
That was a joyful day in 1960 and one to remember.
Thanks for reading this and sharing my memory of seeing the President - twice.
Labels: downtown San Diego, JFK, President Kennedy, Sen Kennedy, USD
Putting my best face forward...
Even though I have had some luck at being picked as an extra, I am reminded that snapshots are not as effective as professional headshots.
I was asked to be a husband to a delightful actress as a Background couple (BG) in a Shem Creek restaurant scene for a show called WE LOVE YOU, hopefully, to be seen on the YouTube Red subscription network.
Casting people and the film's Director may have a clear image of the character they want...or just a vague feeling. A pro headshot comes in handy in helping them make a decision.
Local production of tv shows has been fairly active and I am pleased that I was chosen as a non-speaking extra to appear on the small screen in season two of
VICE PRINCIPALS and the second season of
THE INSPECTORS.
Even after the scene has been shot - and after I've signed all the paperwork to be paid - there is no guarantee that it will actually get on the air.
I decided I like doing this and wanted to "up my game" with some professional headshots.
Fortunately, I know
Joseph Nienstedt, a multi-talented photographer, who was all set to capture me in several headshots.
Made an appointment and Joe spent well over an hour to get a smiling shot and a more serious one. This way, I could be considered as a happy-go-lucky nice guy with a ready laugh.
Or, as a stuffy judge, politician, or even a sympathetic funeral director.
Maybe a seen-it-all detective or simply a lovable grandfather in a family setting.
Hey, I like all of those options!
I'm still basking in my nice long scene with actress
Sheila Cochran where the two of us reacted to a scruffy, battered, bleeding guy
who shuffles toward us. Sheila is a great "hospital screamer!"
This is in the Adam Sandler film THE DO-OVER, that started streaming since Memorial Day on Netflix.
Ok, I have my new headshots and will send them when applying for roles in a tv show or movies filming nearby. It's a good, fun thing to do when you're retired.
And, best of all when you're picked and you nail it.
(Click on the photos and links for more details.)
About the only time I write in cursive is my signature. Maybe I'll get to do autographs some day.
Labels: #headshots, autographs, comforting husband, cursive writing, funeral director, Joseph Nienstedt, signature, smiling and happy-go-lucky, stodgy politician
Some people purr-fer Cats.....
It's been well documented that petting an animal - and being licked - is therapeutic.
In a hospital or nursing home setting, it is demonstrated often when caring individuals bring their dogs in for a round of visits and patients respond favorably.
My mom, in her 90s, was in a nursing home and benefited often from such dog-owner kindness.
I would see several dogs going from room to room on certain days of the week and knew people were being calmed and that was a beautiful thing.
But, my family has long been partial to cats.
So, one day, I dusted off the cat carrier and brought my mother her 10-pound orange cat named Wallaby for a visit.
Mom was sleeping when I arrived after lunch, and Wallaby had been noisily letting me know he was tired of being cooped up in the carrier and surrounded by the strange setting.
An outside cat, he was used to being where he wanted to be and had trained me to understand what my role was when he stood on either side of the door,
Yeah, he was not a happy cat. Until he realized Mom was next to him.
He stopped making noise and started purring. Mom awoke and smiled, petting her cat.
Wallaby had allowed me to attach a short leash to his collar and he now shared the pillow, rubbing his moist nose on Mom's hand and cheek.
I had received permission from the staff for my stealthy cat visit, and several of Mom's caregivers stopped by to see how the visit was going. They sat her up in a wheelchair and Wallaby sat quietly in Mom's lap as she petted and rubbed him.
There were smiles - and a few tears - as the orange-striped cat and my Mom had a short but emotional visit together.
On the drive home, Wallaby was quiet and we both were purring a bit.
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| At first, Wallaby needed the leash |
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| Together again -- after two years |
Labels: 10-pounder., a purr-fect visit, cat-in-the-box, inside-outside, Sandpiper Nursing and Rehab, Wallaby
