San Luis Obispo Blues Society Upcoming Events Saturday, September 25, 2004 Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang with the Gary Mendoza Band SLO Vets Hall 801 Grand Avenue 8PM  Members $13 / General Admission $15 Saturday, October 23: Janiva Magness

BLUES REVIEW
The San Luis Obispo Blues Society presents Eddie “House Rocking” Shaw and the Wolf Gang on Saturday, September 25.  The Gary Mendoza Band will be opening the show.  The show starts at 8:00 PM at the San Luis Obispo Vets Hall, 801 Grand Avenue.  Tickets are $13 for members and $15 for the general public.  All tickets are sold at the door.  For more information, call 805/541-7930.

EDDIE SHAW AND THE WOLF GANG
Eddie Shaw is a master of the tenor and alto saxes and harmonica, and is a talented singer, songwriter and music arranger. Eddie arrived in Chicago in 1957 after being recruited by Muddy Waters during a road trip.  He formed the Wolf Gang in the 1960’s as the back-up band for Howlin’ Wolf, a relationship which continued for over a decade.  Eddie has also toured with other Chicago blues greats, such as Freddie King, Otis Rush, and Magic Sam.  Today, Eddie Shaw and Wolf Gang are one of the mainstays of the Chicago blues club scene.

Eddie Shaw was the manager and producer of Howlin’ Wolf’s later recordings, and his songs have been recorded by John Hammond, Otis Rush, Willie Dixon and others.  In 1996, he received the Critics Award for outstanding blues musician from Living Blues.  In 2003 & 2004, he received W. C. Handy Award nominations for best horn instrumentalist.  He has made six albums during his career, starting with Have Blues, Will Travel (Simmons, 1977), two for Rooster Records (King of the Road, 1985, and In The Land of The Crossroads, 1992), two for Wolf Records (The Blues is Good News, 1990, and Home Alone, 1994), and Can’t Stop Now (Delmark, 1997).  Here’s what Eddie Shaw says about the saxophone: “I think playing the horn like I do is something like the old Baptist preacher.  He shouts out what he wants you to hear, and he brings it to you in such a way that you’re gonna listen.  That’s the way I try to do it with the saxophone.  I try to have a good attack, don’t try to play a lot of notes, try to stay with the basics and tell a good story.”

The Wolf Gang is currently composed of Eddie Vaan Shaw Jr. on lead guitar; Lafayette "Shorty" Gilbert on bass; and Tim Taylor on drums.  Eddie’s son Vaan is an important addition to the band.  Vaan’s guitar playing has received awards from Living Blues, Guitar Player and Downbeat Jazz Magazine as one of the next generation of black musicians.  Blues Access believes he will take over the Chicago guitar crown in the next decade.  The Wolf Gang gives you a chance to hear both the history and future of Chicago blues from this father/son combination.

GARY MENDOZA BAND

The Gary Mendoza Band is a hard driving band filled with experienced Central Coast musicians.  The band rocks the house with a blend of Chicago/Delta-style blues and California West-Coast-style blues.  Gary Mendoza (lead vocals & harmonica) is a bluesman at heart, raised on the traditional sounds of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter. Since 1995, he has fronted bands such as Code Blues, the Blues Effects, and the Salt Water Blues Band.   Bruce Krupnik (guitar, slide guitar & vocals) has been playing on the Central Coast for the past ten years as a former guitarist for Slidewinder and The Hoodoo Blues Band.  Ron Hagadone (bass & guitar) was a veteran of Hollywood blues bands before moving to the Central Coast.  Bob Hobbs (drums) has played throughout the U.S. with musicians such as Tom Waits and Ron Thompson.  David Rasico (keyboards & vocals) is from Memphis and has played with major artists such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels and B.B. King.  Finally, Roger Gatchet is returning from Spain to help Gary out on harmonica.

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) or e-mail the volunteer coordinator at SLOBluesSociety@yahoo.com and volunteer to work a shift at the show.
 
 

CATALOG OF SHOWS	LOCAL BLUES PERFORMERS	CD REVIEWS	LINKS
May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 January 2004 December 2003 October 2003 September 2003 May 2003 March 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 September 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002 January 2002 December 2001 October 2001 September 2001 July 2001 May 2001 April 2001 March 2001 January 2001 December 2000 November 2000 September 2000 July 2000 May 2000 April 2000 February 2000 January 2000 December 1999 October 1999 1998 Shows	Guy Budd Band Demolition Blues Valerie Johnson Life at the Top Gary Mendoza Band Mighty Croon Dogs Texicali Divas Karen Tyler	Guitar Shorty Smokin' Joe Kubeck & Bnois King Jody Williams Chris Thomas King Charles Brown Tommy Castro Deborah Coleman Ernie Hawkins Guy Davis LJ Evans Hot Blues May 02 Omar & the Howlers Popa Chubby Michelle Wilson Blind Pig 25 Anniversary Any Woman's Blues Eric Bibb Ernie Hawkins	The Blues Foundation Cambria Hoot

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