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***************************** Saturday, October 31, 2009 RONNIE BAKER BROOKS Opening set: Pryor Baird & the Deacons **************************** SLO Vets Hall 801 Grand Avenue 8PM Members $17 / General Admission $20 21 & over, please
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Mission Statement Support the Blues Society How to Volunteer Advertising Membership Performer list: 25 years of the Blues 2009 Show Dates |
PO Box 14041 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 This site
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BLUES SHOW REVIEW. Celebrate Halloween with the San Luis Obispo Blues Society and Ronnie Baker Brooks on Saturday, October 31. Pryor Baird & the Deacons open the dance concert at 8:00pm at the SLO Vets Hall, 801 Grand Avenue. Free dance lessons at 7:30pm. Costume Contest at 10:00pm. Tickets are $17 for Blues Society members and $20 for the general public. All tickets are sold at the door. 21 and over, please. For more information or to volunteer, call 805/541-7930 or visit our website (www.sloblues.org).
RONNIE
BAKER BROOKS
By
the time he was 18, Ronnie Baker Brooks was touring with his father, Lonnie
Brooks, on second guitar and vocals. For many of these years, shows
started off with Ronnie on lead guitar and vocals, while his younger
brother Wayne supported him on rhythm guitar. When Lonnie was ready
to come on stage, Wayne stepped down and Ronnie switched to back up.
Brooks served as his father’s bandleader for over ten years before starting
his solo career in 1999.
In the past ten years, Ronnie has released three CDs. His most recent release, The Torch (Watchdog Records, 2006) was nominated for three prestigious blues awards – a testament to the depth of his talent, given that he wrote all 17 of the songs and recorded it with his touring band. The song Ronnie is most proud of is “The Torch of the Blues” which features Brooks with his father and heroes Eddy Clearwater, Jimmy Johnson and the late Willie Kent.
The Torch also showcased the breadth of Ronnie’s talent, ranging stylistically from traditional Chicago blues to hip hop, funk, and rock. As Ronnie says, “I wanted to do something that would bring young people to the blues, and then give them the real hardcore thing at the same time. When I grew up, all my friends listened to rap and funk, and I listened to the blues. So I heard their music and they heard mine. I think we both saw some connection between them. It's a hip-hop world right now, but I want to bring a little blues to the party.”
“In Ronnie Baker Books’ powerhouse hands blues-rock never sounded so outrageous. Soul never sounded so delicious. And blues never sounded so profound … one of today's top live performers.” Art Tipaldi, Blues Revue. There are some outstanding video clips on Brooks’ myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/bookrbb).
PRYOR BAIRD
& THE DEACONS
Local
favorites Pryor Baird & the Deacons play original tunes and a swinging
mix of Chicago, Mississippi Delta and Piedmont style blues. The band is
centered on Pryor Baird’s predatory guitar and pleasantly rough vocals.
Drummer Louie Broussard and bassist Robert Chetwood hold down the bottom
with sonic prowess, giving the band a distinctive “fat hollow sound.” Pryor
Baird and the Deacons have been finalists in the Blues Foundation's International
Blues Competition two years in a row. Hear samples on their website (http://www.dothedeacons.com).
VOLUNTEER. Your Blues Society is run entirely by volunteers. Besides a sense of accomplishment, volunteers get into the shows for free and receive a couple free drink tickets. We could use your help, so call 541-7930 (our voice mail number) and volunteer to work a shift at the show.
DANCE
LESSONS.
East Coast Swing Lessons with Linda Drake & SLO Dance. Chris
Harmon and other award-winning instructors from SLO Dance offer beginning
swing dance lessons at 7:30 before each Blues Society show. Lessons
are free with admission to the show and no partner is necessary.
Linda Drake’s staff at SLO Dance includes several nationally recognized
award-winning dancers and instructors in both Ballroom and Swing.
SLO Dance staff consistently earns awards in major dance competitions and
are in constant training as instructors. Visit their website
for more information.
