Roland's Notes

Two Great Shows Coming to Lou’s Blues in October and November!

Samantha Fish

Oct 9

&

The Nighthawks 

with Special Guest “Steady Rollin’ ” Bob Margolin

Nov 18

by Michelle Wilson

When Lou Andrus purchased the former Dragon Lady and opened the doors to Lou’s Blues in December of 2002, he unlocked an entire new music scene for Brevard County and beyond. With its appealing beachside ambiance, friendly staff and casual, nonsmoking atmosphere (smoking is allowed on the outdoor deck), Lou’s has become synonymous with quality entertainment, including local, national and international acts. Past performers include Savoy Brown, Big Bill Morganfield (son of Muddy Waters), Jimmie Vaughn, Les Dudek and the late Johnny Winter. Continuing this tradition of promoting premium shows, Brevard Music Group and Lou’s Blues Upstairs proudly present Samantha Fish on Thursday, October 9, and The Nighthawks with Special Guest “Steady Rollin’ ” Bob Margolin on Tuesday, November 18.

Following in the footsteps of such notable female slide guitarists as Bonnie Raitt, Nancy Wilson of Heart and Susan Tedeschi of Tedeschi Trucks Band, up-and-coming blues singer/songwriter/guitarist Samantha Fish brings her unique blues-infused rock with just a touch of country to Lou’s Blues. The poised, stylish 20-something-year-old Kansas City native and Ruf Records artist is the real deal, playing acoustic, electric, slide and Dobro guitar, and credits John Hiatt, Tom Waits, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Angus Young and Freddie King as some of her early influences. With three records released since 2011 that all were produced by former Royal Southern Brotherhood guitarist Mike Zito, Fish won the 2012 Blues Music Awards Best New Artist category, and her sound continues to entice new fans. In 2013, Fish appeared on Devon Allman’s solo debut for Ruf Records, Turquoise, recording a cover with him of Tom Petty’s classic, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.” RSB’s bassist, Charlie Wooten and drummer, Yonrico Scott, along with Zito, all contribute to Fish’s latest release, 2013’s Black Wind Howlin’. Eleven of the twelve tracks feature material written or co-written by Fish. If you’re a blues fan, Lou’s is the place to be as this funky, gritty chick rocker will engage and delight you with her storytelling skills, accomplished vocals and impeccable guitar prowess.

Award-winning “Steady Rollin’ ” Bob Margolin has been on the blues rock & roll music scene since the early ‘70s, and the list of his iconic collaborations is endless. A masterful vocalist and guitarist, Margolin played in Muddy Waters’ band from 1973 to 1980, which even included an appearance in The Band’s The Last Waltz as Waters’ guitarist. The seasoned bluesman has recorded and/or toured with the likes of Johnny Winter, Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton, Jimmy Rogers, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Calvin “Fuzz” Jones,  Jerry Portnoy, John Brim, Ronnie Earl and Big Bill Morganfield, just to name a few. In addition to recording and touring, Margolin offers wildly popular guitar workshops and is a columnist, author, founding member of VizzTone Label Group and a Board Member of the Pinetop Perkins Foundation, which supports rising and retiring musicians. Margolin is renown for high-energy, audience-interactive performances, and he joins The Nighthawks, a band he recorded with on their 1979 record, Jacks & Kings, for this special night of music.

The Nighthawks have been entertaining for over 40 years having survived multiple membership changes, but founding father, lead vocalist and blues harpist extraordinaire, Mark Wenner, has held steadfast to his roots rock and blues band from its inception.  The group’s early incarnation opened for such seminal artists as Muddy Waters, James Cotton and Carl Perkins, and they also performed and recorded with John Hammond and Pinetop Perkins. Along with Wenner, the current veteran lineup is comprised of guitarist Paul Bell, bassist Johnny Castle and drummer Mark Stutso, all stellar musicians contributing vocally and instrumentally to a tight, groovy sound and a feel-good show from the first moment. In 2011, The Nighthawks won the Acoustic Album of the Year award at the Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards in Memphis, proving that after all these years, they still can bring the goods.

As always, thank you for your support and friendship. I hope to see you at one of our upcoming shows!

 -Roland

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