1 (edited by SRV 2008-06-26 08:55:21)

Topic: Chris Duarte...

First off.....Moondog's has got to be the best blues bar in America.  I'm sure that raised a few eyebrows.....but there's a box of wine at the end of the beer tap.....come on.....

I counted 30 people when the show started.....counting the door and sound man.  It stayed pretty much like that.....

I was thoroughly impressed (thanks Don!!)  Love that funky edge.....LOVE IT!!!

FABULOUS rhythm section, and Chris is a world class guitar player.....AND a great guy.....as is the rest of his band.....

Had a chance to talk to him at the bar after the show.....to the point that we were the only two left.  Very, very cool.....

He does great Texas shuffle, great blues, and DAMN, that FUNK!!!!!

Freeway Jam was awesome.....

Now, (if the "what is this website for" police have gone to bed...) this is how the evening ended:

After making a couple bad turns, and finally getting on the road I wanted, I went past this young lady waving a gas can.....she ran out of gas.  So, I pulled off in front of her, and she hops in and tells me I'm the last decent white man on the planet.....hey, that's what she said.  Obviously she had been there a while.....

So, I rode her up the road to get gas, then back to fill up.  Perfect end to a perfect evening.....down Big Man.....down.....

btw, Joe?  Billy sez hey.....damn she's hot.....

They're at home still runnin' for bells
Better San Juan
Than that blue collar hell

Re: Chris Duarte...

Sounds like you had a great time there ol' buddy. Moondogs is definately not the Taj Mahal, but indeed provides a great setting for the blues. Just as long as your date doesnt rip her hose on the tattered bar stools you will be OK. Glad the venue was as intimate as you expected. 30 people huh? And you were worried about the 100 seat capacity.  Wish I coulda been there...to the show that is.  So which of the 3 did you get in return in regards to the no free rides policy ??? ummm...never mind.

Tell me about the car i saw parked outside your door ? Tell me what you left me waiting two or three hours for ? Tell me why when the phone rings, baby, your up and across the floor ? Please dont keep me wondering no more.....

Re: Chris Duarte...

Another satisfied 1st time Duarte Fan...I'm sooo happy when Chris just leaves the "virgins" with that certain smile that lasts a few days.... Especially when he gives you that 3 1/2 hour show.
.
So what there was only 30-40 faithful there but Chris is there to play if it's for 1 or a couple of thousand. I might be making the trip to Austintown Friday night for another mind blowing guitar night.
.
Moondog's has a newer carpeted stage floor, painted ceiling and stage lights from the last time I was there...now only if they'd fix the bathrooms....!
.
Upcoming shows @ Moondog's Ana Popovic -July 13th...: )
It will be a sell-out for sure!  (anyone else out there a Ana Fan?)

And so castles made of sand melts into the sea, eventually.........

4 (edited by Barbara 2008-06-26 12:10:54)

Re: Chris Duarte...

SRV loved your review!!  Especially the recap of the end of your night.  Another adventure driving home, huh?  Well, you should feel pretty good right now because you helped a damsel in distress.  That was really nice of you to stop to help her.  Take care friend....

                                               Barbara  wink

Re: Chris Duarte...

Hi Jim. Glad you got to see Chris. When he played at Kclinger's it wasn't crowded either. He gives you his all regardless. The shows there are on Weds. nights also and I think that effects the crowd size. I'm still in love with "Something Wicked"..now there's a sexy song!!!
These venues must book similar players, because Kclingers has Ana coming as well as Jim Shuler and other great acts. I'm going to try and catch as many as I can.     Cathy

Re: Chris Duarte...

<<Moondogs is definately not the Taj Mahal>>

Now that all depends on how ya look at it, Darrin.....if it ain't the Taj Mahal, it's definately Mecca.  And in a perfect bit of irony, there's a good chance Taj Mahal will stop in after the Pittsburgh Blues Festival.  And the bar maid (Billy) told me that Tab Benoit is almost guaranteed to show up after his show that Friday.  I may have to find me a bed and breakfast in Blawnox that weekend.....

(and damn right nevermind, you dawg...)

Don, great to see you guys again, and GREAT heads up buddy!!  That's a band that I would travel to see.  (Where the hell is Austintown???)  I didn't mean to sound like 30 people was a put down.....I thought it was great.....very intimate.  And they ALL were diggin' it.....

And what's wrong with the bathroom??  There's two perfectly good plumbing fixtures.....3 if you count the sink. (sorry ladies, it's a guy thang...) And it was relatively semi-clean.....kinda.....

I'm an Ana fan!!  I'll be seeing her in Wheeling in August, and now that I know she'll be at Moondog's I'll be seeing her there too!!  That'll be great to see her in that intimate setting.  Be great to see her in ANY intimate setting, but that's another review.....

Barbara, it's all part of my "Summer of Love" tour.....I'm getting back in touch with me inner 16 y/o.  (OK all you old hippies out there...do the math...)

Yes, another adventure on the way home.....I should start writing this stuff down.  D'oh, I guess I am!!  I almost didn't mention it in here because I thought it might have sounded a bit self indulgent, but it was just one of those thangs that happen that are a bit out of the ordinary and you're glad you were a part of.  That was a pretty desolate stretch of road that she was on, and her night could have easily gone from bad to worse.  It was kinda cool to be able to make it go from bad to a whole lot better.....

Now, if you'll excuse me, my inner 16 y/o needs a nap.....

They're at home still runnin' for bells
Better San Juan
Than that blue collar hell

Re: Chris Duarte...

SRV wrote:

That's a band that I would travel to see.  (Where the hell is Austintown???)

SRV-

Check your e-mail

Dean

Re: Chris Duarte...

Glad you liked Chris - he's one of my favorites and such an incredibly nice guy - how
he plays for 3 1/2 hours with such intensity is beyond me.  Seeing him at Shank Hall
(another great venue) with Eric Sardinas next month - that show will go on all night!
Jaci

Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind.  Mick Jagger

Re: Chris Duarte...

Hi SRV. Glad you enjoyed the show. I saw Chris in London earlier this year and that gig also was not very well attended. Can't understand it myself, he certainly does put on a great show..very intense and a helluva nice guy.
Cathy, I agree with you about Something Wicked wink

Jaci, that's gonna be one hot HOT night out...Chris and Eric in one go, WOW.

Tripsy  cool

10

Re: Chris Duarte...

Hey Cath.....don't know how, but I missed your post in my reply.....sorry.  Probably cuz I wrote that over the course of an hour filled with a bunch of chores, and you snuck in the back door, huh?? 

Anyway, sounds like you have yourself a great little blues bar, too.  Nothing quite like it, is there?  Jimmy Thackery played at Moondog's in April, and I didn't see it until a week later on his website, damn it.  Walter Trout plays there maybe once a year, and the chances are good that Tab will stop in after the PBF to jam into the wee hours.  It'll be just like seein' him play the drums in the piano bar on the ship!! 

If I could twist yer arm to come out here in August to see Michael Burks, I'd buy ya a sody pop at Moondog's.....

If Chris was disappointed in the turn out, he sure as hell didn't show it.  As a matter of fact, judging by what we talked about after the show, I'd say he prefers it.....

Dean, thanks buddy.....I hope to see you guys at CD's gig if it rains.  Bring Donnie with you.....and grab a full slab or two before you leave!!

That 3 1/2 hour show is killer, ain't it Jaci??  Not only is he workin' it, but Joel and Ben are both playin' out of their minds too.....my God, what a rhythm section.  Yer makin' me jealous of that CD/EC gig.....but I'll get over it.  I know you'll have a blast at that one!!   

Hey Tripsy, nice to hear from you!  I, too, was thoroughly impressed with how approachable Chris, Joel, and Ben all were.....kinda reminded me of another band that gets talked about a little in here!!  On one hand, you'd like to see these guys get the recognition they deserve, but on the other, how cool is it to see somebody that good in a little hole in the wall??  Somebody mentioned last night that it was like seein' Hendrix in yer buddy's basement.....seriously cool.....

They're at home still runnin' for bells
Better San Juan
Than that blue collar hell

Re: Chris Duarte...

SRV - Yes the ES/CD show will be killer - Shank Hall is small and we'll be in line early to
get up front.  Roy will be there so he'll write an essay regarding the show.  We got a motel
for the night - this is gonna be a late one!  Wish you all could join us....
Jaci

Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind.  Mick Jagger

Re: Chris Duarte...

After all this hype I'm really looking forward to seeing Chris on July 11, in what my brother affectionately refers to as his "little, podunk town,"  and at a FREE concert, no less!  And I, too, wonder just how many of the old timer townfolk will stick around for him.  He's part of the town of Warsaw's Friday night free concert series, and all the REALLY old folks, (not us 50 yr olds!) will have their Polygripped teeth in for some Blues and BBQ!  I'm thinking I'll have to roll my ailing, 83 yr old daddy home long before Chris takes the stage at 9pm,  the last of 3 performers for the night.  Guess that means he probably won't be playing for 3 hrs, cuz I'm sure that small town has an 11pm noise curfew!   I turned my big bro onto Joe and now I'm gonna drag him to see Chris Duarte!

Great musicians have a language & vocabulary that transcends the usual barriers & touches us on a more primitive , basic & yet complex level....

...I'll always have London in my heart, and in my soul...

13

Re: Chris Duarte...

Looking forward to Roy's "essay", Jaci!! 

I've been raving a bit about his rhythm section (have I mentioned FUNKY??), but from what I can tell from youTube, Ben (drummer) and Joel (bass) are new members of the band.....at least fairly new.  I did see a clip from this year that looks like Ben on drums, but nothing on Joel.....

Donna, I sure hope you get to stick around for the show.  And your brother owes you big time!!  As for the noise curfew.....if "lil podunk" has noise ordinances, Chris is in serious trouble!!!

They're at home still runnin' for bells
Better San Juan
Than that blue collar hell

14 (edited by Jaci 2008-06-27 11:49:29)

Re: Chris Duarte...

The last CD I can find has Damien Lewis on drums and Dustin Sargent on bass (2007).
I think the last time we saw Chris he was playing with Bluestone - an all Japanese
band which was really a riot!   But we may have seen him once after that - my
memory is just awful !  Anyway, Donna be sure to stick around and see him, you
won't regret it !
Jaci

Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind.  Mick Jagger

15

Re: Chris Duarte...

I'll see if I can find out about the rhythm section tonight, Jaci.....I'm planning on driving up to Youngstown to see them again.....

If I can get my tookus in gear here.....

They're at home still runnin' for bells
Better San Juan
Than that blue collar hell

Re: Chris Duarte...

SRV - gee's I'm jealous!  Have a great time and let us know all about it !
Jaci

Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind.  Mick Jagger

Re: Chris Duarte...

Hey SRV...probably not going tonight...I'm so bummed...really really bad day @work..and I'm super mentally tired too....I'll bee kicking myself on Saturday....tell Chris couldn't make it!

And so castles made of sand melts into the sea, eventually.........

18

Re: Chris Duarte...

Sorry Don, I didn't see this before I left.....but you missed a memory.....great, GREAT show!!

Melissa.....the robins are chirpin' like they hung out in the rafters at that show last night!!!  Really nice to see you there.....it adds a little sumptin' when somebody you know just saw the same thang you did.....

(btw, Melissa and I are selling access to the best spot in the new basement joint at O'Malley's.....only $19.95.  But if you call within the next 10 minutes, we'll DOUBLE yer order!!)

Can't wait for the pics Melissa.....

Chris and the boys NAILED it!!!  And in front of 160 people this time!! (Cathy, yer right about Wednesdays...)  Chris burned out the high end of his guitar audio with sweat, and had to switch guitars.....that pretty much says it all!!!  (LOVE My Way Down!!)

I had an altercation with a local guitar player that said he could play better, but that's a bit lengthy.  Let's just say I convinced him to leave.  And after word got back to the band, I think I became an honorary member!  There are just SO many stories from that show.....and I'm SO tired.....

But I gotta tell ya.....this band is hotter than fire.....

Melissa.....on the way home, I pulled off 680 to grab a bite to eat, and of course got lost.  They shoulda had "Can't get there from here" signs posted after I got off.....I could NOT find an entrance back to 680 south.  But.....I DID find a Puerto Rican bar (honest to God...there was a Puerto Rican flag on the wall and everythang...)  I was drivin' past, and heard ONE loud note, and figured it was a sign.  Know where the El Tropical is??

Nice place, once you get past the door man with the metal detector.  There was a big legged woman in there that I'da proposed to if I hadn't been the only white boy in the joint.  Anyway, that's another review.....the relevance is, after hearin' Chris's funky rhythm section, I am finally able to appreciate Hip Hop.  All you gotta do is block out the lyrics, and listen for the back beat!!

Jaci.....I found out about the rhythm section.  I was outside before the show, and saw Joel the bass player, so I asked how long he had been playin' with Chris.  He goes "Well, let's see.....I think I started last Thursday."  Square biz.....a freakin' week.  I'm still laughin'.  I really hope they play when you see Chris.....it's a match made in heaven.....

I could go on all day about that show.....so many stories.  But I really need some sleep.....

I'll leave it at this.....if Chris Duarte is within 100 miles of you.....hell, 200.....you got rocks in yer head if you don't see him.....

They're at home still runnin' for bells
Better San Juan
Than that blue collar hell