Snow Storm Week, pt.1

Last night at Cat's Eye, Idle Americans were at half strength. We were merely 'Idle Ame-', or, in anagram land: 'Lame! Die!' Scott and Kim called out because they did not want to make the drive up (or, more accurately, the drive back) from Nova. But, y'know who did come up from Nova?! Bruce Guttridge did! I met him through Robbie at the Zoo Bar jam. And he was awesome. Srsly. We had a chat back at my place over some Bohs about how I need to write/arrange more originals. Which is a true story.

Hot off his recording session with Mark Stevens/Kim Wilson/Pat O'Shea as White Loafer, Robert Frahm played bass and some guitar. We dedicated a few songs to Nick Curran who, if you don't know him, we refer to as "the only guy that matters". And he has cancer. And is 32. And is the kind of guy that calls his benefit show "Fuck Cancer 2010". And arranged The Stooges' "No Fun" as a blues. Get better Nick. And if you live around Austin (and among this blog's readership that demographic is comprised solely of my mom and maybe her sister), go to "Fuck Cancer 2010" on Thursday night.

Despite being under a foot of snow and attributable to the fact that the Cat's Eye doesn't close, ever (and Todd Miller was out of town), the Cat's Eye was hoppin'. We sold some CDs and made some money.

Also, a shout-out goes to my ex-girlfriend for choosing the only night I play the Cat's Eye this month to be the only time she comes to Cat's Eye this month.

Falling under the heading "You Scratch My Back...", I'll be at Bertha's on bass on Friday with Glenn Moomau & The Blue Flames, who shares with me a propensity for having a letter omitted from his name in the press.

Press Release

Whadya' think?

Also, should I go back to bloggin' gigs? I think I will. Starting tomorrow.

Washington, DC Band Wins International Blues Guitar Award





Matt Kelley, 26, of The Big Boy Little Band, was voted Best Guitarist at the 26th annual International Blues Challenge, held Saturday night, Jan. 23, in Memphis, TN.



The Big Boy Little Band, featuring Bret Littlehales, aka Big Boy Little, on harmonica and vocals, Robbie Leebrick on drums, and Steve Crescenze on bass in addition to Kelley's shimmering guitar playing, hosts DC's only weekly Blues jam at the Zoo Bar in Woodley Park. The band won the chance to compete in Memphis by winning the D.C. Blues Society’s Battle of the Bands in October.



The challenge featured 110 bands and 82 solo/duo acts hailing from 39 states and 14 countries. Bands competed in the semi-finals on Thursday and Friday night on Beale Street, with the top 11 advancing to Saturday’s Finals. In the final round, Kelley clinched the award with a scorching solo on BB King's "How Blue Can You Get". By the end of his solo, the 2000-plus person audience in Memphis' historic Orpheum Theater was on its feet, cheering.



Kelley, who has been playing guitar since he was 13, quit his job as a middle school science teacher 2 years ago to focus exclusively on music. Still, "I was shocked.” Kelley said. “I have never in my life seen so many good bands in one place. That I won the same Albert King Award that guys like Sean Carney won seems unreal.”



Another area band had a strong showing, as well. “That both our band and Baltimore’s representatives [Jackie Scott and the Housewreckers] made the finals shows the quality of blues music in the area,” Kelley said.



For his efforts, Kelley won a customized blue Gibson ES335 guitar, the same kind blues legend BB King plays, with the Blues Foundation logo and a customized Category 5 amplifier.



Big Boy Little Band website: Myspace.com/BigBoyLittleBand , where song samples are available.



The band can be reached via myspace or Matt can be reached individually at smapple@gmail.com or 301-257-6367.

My triumphant return to the coaxial waves - The best $0.99 you can spend

Thanks to prodding from several trusted sources who prefer to remain nameless, I decided to launch myself back into the blogospace. Lots has happened since the last time I was up here, but who cares about yesterday's laundry? On to the pressing concerns of the day.

What can you buy for under a dollar anymore? Due to the entropy of inflation, a dollar doesn't go as far as it used to (go). Instead of bemoaning this fact, I'd like to put forth a nominee for the best dollar you can spend:



Quick quiz.
Arizona Juices and Teas are awesome because:
a) They only cost $0.99
b) They're a whopping 23.5 fl oz
c) You can get them at the Citgo across the street from my house
d) All of the above

If you picked (d), I'm sorry, try again next time. Because, while the others are true, you can find many things that are both whopping and on my block (for example, the number of religious zealots whose knock on my door serve as my 9 am alarm clock), but they are hardly awesome. Arizona Watermelon juice is awesome because it only costs $0.99. (In unrelated news, I started working for Kaplan Test Prep last week.) Always the one for over-effusion, Arizona made a brilliant decision by making a drink that's cheap because it's just juice concentrate and sugar.

A close runner up is the McDouble.

On a more musical note (!), if you're doing anything tomorrow that is not going to the Fish Head Cantina in Arbutus for the Ed Clopein benefit, then cancel your plans. Forkman is the biggest fan of the blues. Ever. And he needs your help.

A story I might be relating tomorrow:
When I was 19 or 20, I went to Kclinger's in Hanover, PA (a 90 minute haul) to see Junior Watson who, as you know, is a minor blues deity. At 8:45, someone came around collecting covers (fine) and checking IDs (wtf!). Convincing them that my parents were on the way, I managed to narrowly escape eviction, confident in the hope that Ed and Tobi would be able to vouch for me as their offspring. Upon their certain arrival, I professed to the doorman that these old hippies were, in fact, my folks, and I should be allowed to revel in the sol-like lucency that is the relfection of the stage lights off Jr.'s bald dome. Said doorman greeted Ed & Tobi as the old friends they were and proceeded to inquire as to which of Ed & Tobi's 6 daughters I was. With my tirade about transgender equality falling on deaf ears, I was relegated to standing outside in the drizzle listening to Jr. quote "Jingle Bell Rock" through an open window. Did I mention I had drudged my girlfriend at the time through this charade? In retrospect, it's a surprise she stayed married to my ass as long as she did.

Verbose diatribes aside, here's what you need to know:

You.

At Fish Head Cantina.

Tomorrow. All day.

If you're one of those sticklers for details, here ya go.

See you tomorrow. I'm off to Cheeseburger in Paradise in Pasadena.

Olde Bowie Towne Grilleee

Played tonight for a packed house at Old Bowie Town Grill. Bob runs a great joint and having a club owner that's a musician is always a plus. Saw many old friends and made a couple new ones. Notables include Norma Jean and her friend Reeeeneeee (smile to say it!), Zach's grandfolks, Curt with some GREAT blown up pictures from The Country Store, Tom from Zach Sweeney and the Old Weenies (2nd best band name ever!), and the punk rock grrrl at the bar that left before I could say hi. The always effervescent Poxons were also present to bring Andy out to open up for us. Great people, great show, great response, great, great, great. And I didn't even have to play that much. In other news, thanks to Allison for letting me borrow her "NORML" shirt. We decided it's the sorta' thing that you don't kinda' get.

Also, I'd like to have a cheap wireless laptop that lets me have a browser on the road. It should also have a Kerouac. "Why?" you ask. Well, so I can update this hunk of the interstate every day (...I wake up before 4). So, if these troubling times have you down and you have an extra potable interweb box lying (laying, lieing..?) around, give me a holler.

Kelley, out!

Blog Bankruptcy

I, Matt Kelley, do hereby declare blog bankruptcy. All unpaid debts I have to the blogging community shall hereby be annulled. As partial remunerations, I offer the following tidbits.

Gigging: Things couldn't be going better. I have a new gig doing happy hours at Cat's Eye. This makes for incredibly long Fridays, however well worth it, as most of these days, I have 2-fers. If you haven't seen me lately, I've been told that my stage presence has changed dramatically (thanks Mr. E) and I'm making more eye contact, performing more dynamically, and, consequently, attracting more female attention, which is always appreciated. Also, PP has now added Zach Sweeney on upright bass.

Recording: Idle Americans has been in the studio the last few weeks, and you're not going to believe how good some of these songs sound. The Kid's playing is unbelievable. We're looking at a release date of June/July. PP is also looking to go in the studio; we're just trying to figure out which one. The Big Boy Little Band has been making some great live recordings at Zoo Bar.

Other news:

'Nuff said.

Zoo Bar tonight!

Zoo Bar 2-12-09 Big Boy Little Band

Zoo Bar
3000 Connecticut Ave
Washington, DC

A couple weeks ago, I had the (admittedly rare) drunk idea that stood up in sober light to challenge Allan to a Desert Island Dozen, listing the 12 albums that you could not live the rest of your life without. A couldn't quite get it down to 12, but here goes nothing...

Matt's Desert Island (Baker's) Dozen

William Clarke – Tip of the Top
The Faint – Danse Macabre
Holly Fats Band – Rock This House
Ray Wylie Hubbard – Live at Stingaree 4-13-07
BB King – Live at the Regal
Little Walter - The Essential Little Walter:1
The Pixies – Doolittle
Reverend Horton Heat – Smoke 'Em if You Got 'Em
Jimmie Rivers & the Cherokees – Brisbane Bop
Raymond Scott - Reckless Nights & Turkish Twilights
Junior Wells – Blues Collection
Hank Williams III – Straight to Hell
Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life

(in alpha order)

In other exciting news, this blog's now the first hit when Googling 'Giggin for a Livin'.

Quarry House AND! Bangkok Blues 2-8-09 The Idle Americans and Pessimist Parade

My first 2-fer (2 gigs in a day) since I started blogging!

Quarry House (2-6)
Georgia Ave & Bonifont
Silver Spring, MD

onto

Bangkok Blues (7-11)
926 W. Broad St.
Falls Church, VA

I am a big fan of playing shows at The Quarry House with both bands, The Idle Americans and Pessimist Parade. One of the biggest goals I've had since starting down this tortuous musical path is to unite the Skins (young punks) and Rockabilly cats (old punks) and playing shows with both bands is a big step towards that. IA played a great set (if a little long) that turned on some of the PP fans to us. It was frustrating to tell some of the skins for months that I was in another band that was really good and get shrugged off. But, the only way to change minds is for folks to see us play.

Pessimist's set was also really good (I remembered to stay sober!) until the last 3 songs. We had folks right were we wanted them, we were getting ready for the last 3 songs ANDDDDDDDDD...Wilson's bass broke. The ground came loose. So, after fumbling around for a couple minutes, losing everyone's interest and any energy we had in the set, we played two last songs as a trio and Rio and JJ did 'She Said' as a Lux Interior (RIP) and Hazel Atkins tribute.

*scramble, scramble, scramble*

By the time we got to Bangkok and played our opening set, we were all chugging Red Bulls, trying to keep some energy up. And poor Scott, it was his 3rd gig that day after doing his Sunday church service (I know, right?) in the morning.

This was also remarkable for being the first time in 3 days that I hadn't seen Mr. Enthusiasm.

Last gig for today coming up...