The third show on this trip was in Philadelphia at the Theater Of Living Arts. I remember it was in a cool neighborhood and many bars and restaurants to enjoy before the show.
Set I
01 What's Your Name? 02 You Are The One 03 From Now On 04 Satisfied Fool 05 I Want A Woman 06 Village Of Love 07 Leave Me Alone 08 I Wanna Dance With You 09 Shake What Your Mama Gave You
The second show on this east coast road trip was in Brooklyn NY at the Warsaw. I already wrote my memories of the night on the last blog for the opener.
Set I
01 Thickfreakness 02 Girl Is On My Mind 03 No Trust 04 10AM Automatic 05 The Breaks 06 Busted 07 Stack Shot Billy 08 Grown So Ugly 09 Hard Row 10 Everywhere I Go 11 Set You Free 12 She Said, She Said 13 I'll Be Your Man 14 Have Love Will Travel 15 applause to encore 16 Work Me Baby 17 No Fun
Nathaniel Mayer opened for most of the fall east coast tour for the Black Keys. The Black Keys played the night before at Irving Plaza with the Mighty Imperials opening.
I got to the Warsaw with plenty of time before the show. They had a kitchen serving traditional polish food, and I bought a plate. There were several picnic tables available, and I saw Nate sitting alone and asked him if I could join him for dinner. He welcomed me and we talked. Dan came along shortly after that and joined us as well.
Later, I was walking around the room and recognized Matthew Johnson from Fat Possum Records. I introduced myself and told him how much I appreciated his work. We'd spoken several times on the phone as I purchased records, but I'm guessing this evening he was quite high and our conversation was very brief. The Black Keys were shopping record labels and Matthew was making his bid, but the deep pockets at Warner Brothers (Nonesuch) took control.
Set I
01 What's Your Name? 02 I Wanna Dance With You 03 You Are The One 04 Satisfied Fool 05 I Wanna Know 06 I Want A Woman 07 Village Of Love 08 Shake What Your Mama Gave You
I decided to follow the Black Keys on their fall east coast tour. I'd see 10 shows from NYC to
Toronto Canada.
The first show at Irving Plaza had a different opener than the rest. The Mighty Imperials opened in NYC. A couple of the members of this band started working with Dan later with the Arcs and other recording projects. The rest of the tour had Nathaniel Mayer opening.
I had known Dan's dad, Chuck, through the Black Keys forums online and he asked me to call him when I got to the show. He was there attending too. He told me Dan had been working with him the day before at an antique show in the city. He also said that Billy Gibbons was backstage with Dan at the moment and Chuck was anxious to get back to the green room. It was nice to meet Chuck in person.
On my way to New York, I drove through Akron and saw some of the neighborhoods and sights mentioned by Pat and Dan in their interviews. I remember having a burger at Swenson's.
Set I
01 intro 02 No Trust 03 Girl Is On My Mind 04 Thickfreakness 05 10AM Automatic 06 Hard Row 07 The Breaks 08 Grown So Ugly 09 Set You Free 10 She Said, She Said 11 Everywhere I Go 12 Busted 13 Stack Shot Billy 14 Have Love Will Travel encore 15 I'll Be Your Man 16 Heavy Soul
The Mighty Imperials opened for the Black Keys at Irving Plaza in NYC.
I decided to follow the Black Keys for an east coast tour in late 2005.
It turns out a couple of the players in this band started working with Dan on other projects like recording Dr. John and then the Arcs. Probably many more, these are just a couple I know of.
It should probably be The Immortal Lee County Killers III, but I'm not certain.
Set I
Turn On The Panther Boom Boom Revolution Summer (Pussy Galore) ? Cool Driver Nothin' Hurt Like My Back & Side ? Been Down So Long (Doors) No More My Lord Blues Let's Get Killed Goin' Down South (R.L. Burnside)
Big show at the Triple Rock Social Club in Mpls MN. Black Diamond Heavies, Thee Shams, The Immortal Lee County Killers. All headliners.
Thinking back, after this tour all three bands either broke up or changed lineups. This is my 10th and final time seeing Thee Shams.
Thee Shams
01 Not Gonna Make It 02 Something Happening 03 Everflowing Tune 04 San Martine Des Morrelle 05 Love Grows & Grows 06 Lonely One 07 S.S. Nowhere 08 No Trust Fund Blues
I shot the final song of Thee Shams set with Mark Porkchop Holder joining in on harp. No Trust Fund Blues. No clue why I didn't get video of the entire set or any of ILCK.
Here's the complete audio of Thee Shams. Note that Chet of ILCK joins in the 3rd song Everlasting Tune. (at 6:55)
Big lineup on this tour. The Heavies with Thee Shams and the Immortal Lee County Killers. I don't know the exact timing, but each of these bands broke up or changed lineups shortly after this tour.
Here's video of the Heavies with the three piece.
Set I
Hambone My Black Name Dirty South Baby Please Don't Leave Me All To Hell Shake 'Em On Down Baby Please Don't Go
Thee Shams at the Empty Bottle. The Black Diamond Heavies and the Immortal Lee County Killers also performed.
Set I
01 Not Gonna Make It 02 Something Happening 03 Love Grows & Grows 04 S.S. Nowhere 05 Lonely One 06 Everflowing Tune 07 Come Down Again 08 San Martine Des Morrelle 09 No Trust Fund Blues
The Black Diamond Heavies opened for Thee Shams and the Immortal Lee County Killers at the Empty Bottle in Chicago IL. For some reason, I didn't record the ILCK? My brother Peter was with me. I'm guessing we left after Thee Shams, not wanting to stay out too late and having an hour drive back to my brother's house.
This was my first Heavies show and one of the few times I saw them as a three piece. These 3 bands play Mpls a couple nights later. I see the 3 piece Heavies the last time a few months later in January back at the Empty Bottle.
Set I
Hambone My Black Name Poor Brown Sugar Dirty South Baby Please Don't Leave Me All To Hell Shake 'Em On Down
Scott H. Biram performing at the Union Terrace in Madison WI. UW show. The .357 String Band opened.
audio only
Set I
Green Onions/Cold River Hit The Road Train Song Graveyard Shift 18 Wheeler Fever Alcohol Blues Blood, Sweat & Murder Pastures Of Plenty Muleskinner's Blues Goin' Down South Truckdriver Plow You Under Been Down Too Long Work White House Blues Blues In A Bottle I Got My Brand On You Pullin' On A Reefer Load Ain't It A Shame Get Me Religion I See The Light/What's His Name Throw That Boogie/Black Betty Church Babies
Scott H. Biram at the 400 Bar in Mpls MN. Th' Legendary Shackshakers also performed.
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Set I
Get Me Religion Hit The Road Graveyard Shift Plow You Under Ain't It A Shame Been Down Too Long 18 Wheeler Fever Raisin' Hell Again Broadminded Throw That Boogie/Black Betty Blood, Sweat & Murder I See The Light/What's His Name Church Babies
I traveled to Mississippi in September 2005 for a couple reasons. R.L. had just passed away and I wanted to attend his funeral. I had also been helping Jessie Mae Hemphill. She was being evicted from her home, and I considered purchasing a house in Clarksdale where she could live. I spent a day with Jessie Mae and another friend, Barbara Blue. We looked at a few houses in Clarksdale and had lunch. Barbara had to get back to Memphis for her regular gig, and I drove Jessie back to her trailer in Senatobia.
Our plan was to wait until Jessie was actually evicted by force. We could get all the media and attention at that time to build more support. Her goal was just to live out the rest of her life at that trailer. As it turned out, she got her wish.
There's another twisted story about the guy Jessie trusted with her money to help with her house. He stole thousands of dollars raised for Jessie Mae. He had money troubles of his own, and kids with medical bills. The poor stealing from the poor. He vanished around that time. I don't think he ever got caught. After Jessie passed, no one seemed to care about justice for that theft.
In Memphis, I had stopped by Xanadu to visit with John and I had purchased a lowebow. On my way out of Mississippi after all these events, I stopped by Richard Johnston's home and he played a bit and recorded some video. Here's a little lowebow lesson and a chat with a neighbor.
Oops. I missed this one. Should have been #92, but I didn't find it until now. I've been trying to get these all in chronological order. Hope there aren't too many more mistakes.
This Florida jam band was another opener at Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa FL for the Black Keys.
After R.L.'s funeral, a benefit show was planned for Alice Mae at the Two Sticks in Holly Springs. I had high expectations. We did hear from Cedric and Kenny; Duane and David. But between my equipment issues and general Mississippi chaos, the evening didn't turn out to be much. The people I wanted to hear played just a few songs. Lots of local players joined and eventually took over the show. Anyway, it was a chance for me to give some money to Alice Mae.
On another night, I was at Otha Turner's and Alice Mae walked by. I told her "you must be very proud of your family". She smiled and said "oh yes".
My goal has been to get my collection of recordings and related information into one place. One resource for this has been my list on db.etree.org. This database was a way to keep track of my collection and have help organizing and increasing information about setlists, venues, artists, etc. Unfortunately, this website hasn't been available for a few days. I'm concerned that won't come back. That would be a drag.
The other unfortunate situation I created was giving away most of my collection of show recordings on cdr. I had a couple thousand shows that I had traded and collected and never really listened to. I felt good sharing these with others, but I really should have copied all the data before giving it away. Oh well, live and learn.
Hank III performing at First Ave in Mpls MN.
Set I
Straight To Hell Trashville Thrown Out Of The Bar Crazed Country Rebel A Little Bit Of Smoke One Horse Town I Don't Know 7 Months 39 Days Dick In Dixie Why Don't You Leave Me Alone Devil Is My Friend Mississippi Mud Good Hearted Woman Okie From Muskogee If You Don't Like Hank Williams I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive Family Tradition Cocaine Blues Hoe Down The Pills I Took Outskirts Of Life 5 Shots Of Whiskey Things You Do To Me Nighttime Ramblin' Man
J.B. Beverly opening for Hank III at First Ave in Mpls MN.
Set I
? ? ? Thirty Days To Get Back Home The Train Song Foggy Mountain Breakdown ? Drinkin' Bourbon Gigi Anyone That Looks Like You Dark Bar And A Jukebox The Wayward Drifters
It had been a tough few months. I sold my business on the 4th. This was my first show after that transaction. It would still be a few more years for the non-compete agreement to complete and the final screwing, but the bulk of the problems were over.
Slick Ballinger performing at the Viking Bar in Minneapolis MN. This was a KFAI hosted event by Jackson's Juke Joint.
Trenton Ayres on bass and Blind Mississippi Morris on harp were in the band.
Richard Johnston had emailed or posted on his website about Jessie Mae Hemphill being evicted from her trailer in Senatobia MS. I contacted Richard about doing a benefit show in Hudson WI. I bought his plane ticket and he came up and did a concert for our neighborhood and we raised several thousand dollars for Jessie Mae. There's much more to that story, and I'll write more about it with the September 2005 recordings.
Waverly Milor sits on on harp for a few songs late in the evening. It's a long show, with a couple set breaks.
This was the Dillo Day Mayfest at Northwestern University. The Black Keys opened for George Clinton. There were a couple other earlier opening bands, but I did not record.
The Black Keys opened for George Clinton & the P-Funk Allstars for Northwestern University Dillo Day Mayfest. My brother and I decided to try to attend this unticketed event. There was no security and we were able to walk right in to the festival. Unfortunately, there was security at the stage, and I only got the first five minutes of video. I do have the entire show audio.
Set I
Thickfreakness 10AM Automatic Girl Is On My Mind She Said, She Said The Breaks Them Eyes Grown So Ugly Busted Stack Shot Billy Set You Free I'll Be Your Man No Fun No Trust Have Love Will Travel applause before encore Heavy Soul
The Heartless Bastards at the Empty Bottle in Chicago IL. There was a Polish deli across the street from the Empty Bottle that I really enjoyed. It's gone now. Things change.
Set I
Pass and Fail New Resolution Done Got Old Gray Onions Blue Day Came A Long Way Lazy The Will Song My Maker Runnin Finding Solutions No Pointing Arrows Swamp Song
Big Whiskey and Locked Sound opened for the Heartless Bastards at the Empty Bottle in Chicago IL.
I'd had a couple weeks to think about the sale of my company to my partner. The bulk of our business was in Wisconsin, but we had started a Chicago office the year prior. My brother runs this location. I ended up selling my half of the WI business to my partner and then the Chicago company to my brother. I stayed involved with Chicago for about a year and then got out of the business entirely.
I tried to schedule my business trips to Chicago around shows. Sometimes, my brother would join me. I don't think he was at this one.
