Guest Book

I, like my dear friend Helen, am just a bit late posting my thoughts on this past weekend, but here I go. It started off with a nice dose of Tishamingo, a band I always love to listen to and hear play. They were joined briefly by guitarist Benji Shanks of Capt. Soulercat, a band all of you must go out and hear. All in all, what a way to start what would become one of my best weekends ever. Saturday saw me taking a blue highway from Mayberryetta over to Buppalo's lovely village of Gadsden, Alabama. Highway 278 is a great road, not much traffic, lots of nice scenery along the way, and what was in store I had no idea about! I met Carl Weaver, owner of Boogie McCain's Blues Club - what a vision he has for not only his club, but for others to join in the synergy (his word) and to bring great music to the people. He has one of the nicest clubs I have ever set foot into, and he spared no expense to make the experience good for those who attend. And even though I rarely if ever drink, the BYOB policy has to be a money-saver for the people! His staff (Allison and Jason) were wonderful and attentive to one and all - thanks to all of you! How can one describe what it is like to meet a legend, someone I have always admired - Johnny Sandlin. He could not have been kinder, nicer, and more attentive to all of us, and his talents were on display once again as he recorded Lefty Collins and the No Mercy Band with his deft touch and keen ear for the smallest details and nuances in the music. His wife Ann spent some time there earlier in the afternoon as Johnny was getting things set up, and I wish she could have come back for the rest of the evening. Maybe next time... The gathering of friends around a dinner table is always a great time, and Saturday night at the Gadsden Cultural Arts Center was the happening place to be for sure! With our most gracious host, Randy "Buppalo" Stephens, leading the way, all of the members of Lefty's band, Rusty, Donna (NOT Doris!), Bluedad (my brother), Helen, Ellen, David, Randy, TanDan, and myself sat down to a time of fun, laughter, smiles, and most of all, good old fashioned friendship and fellowship. It truly does not get any better than that. I wonder if the good people at the Cultural Arts Center know what is in store for them come October and the JFD! Lefty Collins and the No Mercy Band - you guys were amazing. To have traveled so far on such little sleep and then to play such a monstrous show for 4 hours blew me away. I won't rehash all that has been said about how great they cover such songs as "Statesboro Blues" or "Use Me" or any of the others, but it is their original material that stands out equally strong amongst the more familiar strains of tunes we all know. These guys write, play, and present their music with grace, class, passion, and immense talent, and those who had not heard them before walked out as fans. For me personally, it was an honor of the highest magnitude to be invited onstage to play a couple of songs with the band at the end, and to be given my friend Brent Sibley's beautiful 1959 Gibson Les Paul to play on top of that - chill city, my friends. Chill city. Brent and his keyboard prodigy, Stephen McCullough (sp?) were outstanding during their time onstage with the guys, with particular kudos to their otherwordly version of "Mountain Jam" that included a neat little "Blue Sky" in the middle! Lefty, Pete, J.P., and Todd - thank you one and all for bringing your souls to Gadsden and leaving little bits of them with all of us who were fotunate enough to be there. Back to the hotel, which is literally 2 blocks down the street from Boogie's. Played some blues with David and Bluedad, (and Ellen on her baritone ukulele!), spent some great time there with them and Helen and TanDan, and really wound down the day on a great note. TanDan had perhaps the moment of the weekend when he got to talk to Johnny Sandlin about Eddie Hinton. Have you quit smiling about that one yet, bro? Oh yeah, and that little quote about Hubert Sumlin wishing he was Lefty Collins - I proudly take full credit for that one! Sunday morning came way too soon, but I had one more stop along my way. The 14th annual Southern Revival was being held at Mike n' Angelo's in Buckhead, and how could I turn my back on the place where Hop, JNB, the Tour Mystic, and I put our heads and our hearts together to start HTN over 13 years ago. There were 4 high schoolers playing ABB music that afternoon, taking the place of the older guys who for various reasons could not make it to the Revival. Let me say right now that playing for 4 hours with these young men, all of them students of the music for sure, was a great honor for me. They knew the music, they could play it well, and what better and cooler way for Brother Duane's legacy to be carried on for future generations than to have the younger folks playing the music he inspired. My dear friend Rick "Darkroom" Garner brought his whistles (harmonicas for those who don't know what a whistle is) and it is always good to play music with him! So, after lots of miles, lots of smiles, and lots of great music, I made it safely home Sunday night to some of the best and fondest memories I have had in a long, long time. My thanks to one and all - and to all of you for reading this small novelette! Peace always, Willie Howard (from Mayberryetta, a suburb of Hot'lanta)