Lexington band, The Stella Vees, opened up this early Sunday show at 6:30PM. Fronted by Jason Lockwood, a true T-Bone Walker/Charlie Christian aficionado on the guitar/vocals, the Stella Vees are known for their yearly daytime jam in Handy Hall at the IBC in Memphis. Lately the Stellas have added a new member, my favorite harp player in this area of the country (cos he's likely the best!)... Mark Hoekstra. I arrived about 15 minutes into their set and Mark was singing a slow, sexy Magic Sam tune. The band was sounding good and looking good. Jason is a very smooth vocalist... a truly fine guitarist and front man. Mark's dynamic showmanship and vocals was really a standout...he has played with some notables as 'Big Eyed' Willie Smith (late 'Legendary Blues Band' tours), Steve Arvey, and of course, Johnny Roy & the RubTones!
It's a shame this first set was so sparsely attended.

John Nemeth's band started with California pro guitarist Bob Welsh. Bob appears to be a well weathered roadman "in a clean and wholesome kind of California way" and is a remarkable picker. Welsh seems to be a very versatile guitar player in that he can do Buddy Guy style frantic/live-wire guitar/soulful R&B/West Coast swing/jazz, etc.. He did mostly the Buddy Guy type stylings thru the evening as was appropriate for alot of Nemeth's material. My only complaint was Bob's tone, with no reverb, was a a bit hard and harsh to my ears...but I'm a reverb man from way back, and I assume this tone is Bob's preferred choice, or perhaps the effects were just not working on his vintage Fender Super. The rhythm section were seasoned pros as well.
I couldn't tell you their names, but the drummer looked to me quite a bit like Fran Christina of the Thunderbirds. He was a very dynamic drummer - excellent player, also from the West Coast. The bass player, who's first name I believe is Domenic, is from NY.

When Nemeth took the stage, he commanded the room with his confidence and with his voice...and what a Voice! I haven't heard blues crooning like this since I witnessed Sugar Ray Norcia with Roomful of Blues many years ago! Nemeth could kill with that voice! Whoo! After the first song, I told Mark Hoekstra I thought the PA wasn't quite loud enough (it usually isn't in Stevie Rays as the soundman seems to prefer a 'rock mix' for vocals). Mark asked the soundman to turn Nemeth up and it was excellent from there on.
John's harp playing is tremendous as well. Both he and Bob Welsh were playing through 60's Fender Super Reverb amps and I liked John's tone...because Nemeth actually had his reverb On! He sang what I assumed was an original tune (titiled something like'You're Never Too Old to Boogie') thru his harp mic...Killer!! I love Nemeth's original material but he sang a top shelf version of Come On In My House that was vocally about as 'state of the art' as it ever gets! Vocal phrasing to die for!

Just a bit before Nemeth sang that Junior Wells song, a certain Champaign Illinois band entered the club who we all know as Kilborn Alley, with our own Josh Stimmel (waltersharp), excellent vocalist Andy Duncanson, and their guest harp man, our recent BBF member Deak Harp of the Deak Harp Blues Band from Illinois. Nemeth, (a very tough vocal act to follow!) soon called Andy to the stage to sing. Mr. Duncanson did a fine job, singing in a Chicago "Muddy" style that was a cool contrast to John Nemeth's vocals. Then Josh and Deak took the stage. Josh sounded great on guitar, played his ass off, and I was very impressed with Deak's harmonica playing which, at that point, I didn't know who he was, or where he was from, but knew he wasn't Kilborn's regular harp man.

A great evening of blues in Louisville! Stevie Ray's Blues Club is a venue that has been around a good while. Recently, they tried a stint for more income by opening up to more rock type acts. I am not sure if that helped their cause much, but I think they slowly seem to be going back to the blues...where they should be! This show was very sparsely attended at first, and Kilborn Alley were playing an early party for a blues society member in another club, which may have affected attendance of Nemeth's show somewhat, but the crowd picked up pretty good later on - though I was surprised that a good many of the later arriving people toward the back of the bar were talking very loudly and not really listening to the remarkably talented John Nemeth. The crowd noise wasn't that noticeable except during John's low dynamic moments, and between songs. Still, a very good night for the blues in Kentucky.

Johnny Roy