Tuesday, October 15

Caught backstage

Mark Soth caught a pic of 3 of us Burnt Cat Blues players behind the gazebo in Bentonsport on Sunday.   We were listening to Keith DeBoer sing and play his unapologetically romantic ballads after we backed Eric Schaffer's set.
photo of Christy, Kevin, Russ, watching Keith
Keith DeBoer plays guitar and sings while we stand and listen ~~
Christy Ann Welty, Kevin Wells, Russ England
photo by Mark Soth

Monday, October 14

Burnt Cat Blues *

Sunday afternoon was perfect for playing at the Bentonsport Scenic Drive Festival (and Fine Arts Festival).   Sunny on the north bank of the Des Moines River, shady under grand old trees, breezy on the gazebo, we traded places in a game of musical chairs ~ a series of musicians joining and leaving the "jam session" organized by Mark Soth.
photo of Bentonsport's gazebo shortly before our set
at the Bentonsport gazebo just before our set,
a few members of
Blue Cat Alley (named from right to left):
Steve Jeffries at far right on congas, Mark Soth right of center behind corn stalks,
Beth Payne center, Astred Griffin left of center, and David Bordow seated far left
photo by Heather Miller-Rodriguez

Soth's band Blue Cat Alley supplied several players for the jam, including guitarist Kevin Wells and percussionist Steve Jeffries, who played with Russ and I for our four-song set.   Mike was busy taking photos of Chicago's marathon that day.

I chose cover songs because we had time for exactly one rehearsal before the gig, so everybody had to know their parts before the rehearsal.   Russ and I met with Kevin on Wednesday to work out chords and endings, and we were ready to go.   Steve Jeffries joined us on stage after I'd introduced our first song, and I was ready to gun the engine on that Cadillac.

Our 4-song set:

Bring My Cadillac Back
Wind Cries Mary
Little Wing
Wayfaring Stranger 

After our set, Mark asked Russ to stay for the next set to accompany Eric Schaffer, along with Kevin Wells, Steve Jeffries, Mark Soth, and David Bordow.   I decided to stay, too, and picked up a tambourine to jingle along in an impromptu blues jam with Eric's strong lead singing.   After his set, Eric told me that he specializes in simple songs that are easy to jam with no rehearsal.

*  With Kevin and Steve from Blue Cat Alley, and Russ and I from Burnt Sugar Blues, Will Gunn suggested the moniker Burnt Cat Blues.