mvbs.org - 2008 Iowa Blues Challenge Preliminary Round April 12 at RIBCO

The musicians that didn't know music could play the best blues. I know that I don't want no musicians who know all about music playin' for me.

- Alberta Hunter

2008 Iowa Blues Challenge Preliminary Round April 12 at RIBCO

On the front page of the Blues News, you may have noticed the Mississippi Valley Blues Society’s mission statement. Once you’ve waded through all the philosophical hype about “native art forms” and “enhanced appreciation,” and the legal mumbo-jumbo about “nonprofit” and “tax exempt” status, it boils down to this: For about the past quarter-century, we’ve been doing what we can to “keep the blues alive.” One way we do this is with our internationally recognized annual blues festival. Throughout the year, we also bring in knowledgeable musicians for educational residencies, and partner with area clubs and live music venues to present local and touring blues acts. But just as important, if perhaps less obvious, is the MVBS’ participation in the Iowa and International Blues Challenge.

Pocket Deuces

Over the years, our involvement in this annual talent competition has resulted in the decision by numerous young musicians to explore the blues. Many more experienced bands have set aside the emo, slo-mo, goth, house, hip hop, techno, folk rock, alt-rock, or whatever the pop, radio-friendly genre du jour they’ve been playing around with, to take some time to get back to the roots, the blues. They do so with the understanding that less than an hour’s worth of finely honed, tightly crafted and well practiced blues can get them local and regional recognition, and with a little luck, perhaps earn them a trip to Memphis to hear, and be heard by, some of the finest blues bands from around the world. And that’s important, because without the next generation of blues players ready to step up, the blues is destined to become just another display in some musty museum.

The four bands entered in this year’s local Iowa Blues Challenge Preliminary Round are indicative of just how vital this event has become in ensuring the future health of the blues. This year, in fact, the word “local” is something of a misnomer, and even the description “Iowa” doesn’t quite work, as two of the bands are based primarily in the Illinois Quad Cities, one of the bands is from the Southeast corner of the state, and one band is driving clear across Iowa to compete.

Slim and the Bulletproof Boys

The Pocket Deuces are recently formed, and consist of MVBS member and volunteer Lonnie Britt on harp, Jared Hughes on guitar, John Bechtel on drums and Rick Wilson on bass. Three of the guys sing, so they promise some good vocal depth. Although the musicians have previously played with other bands, the IBC will be their public debut as a team.

After offering up a blazing set at last year’s event, Slim and the Bulletproof Boys will be back to do it again. They feature Josh “Slim” Kain on guitar, Jamie Kain on drums and Dan Kyle on bass. Slim has been a regular fixture at many recent blues jams, and if you thought these guys were good last year, you’ll be surprised what a difference a year can make.

Smokin' Mojo Kings

The Smokin’ Mojo Kings drove up from the Fort Madison area last year, and they didn’t just enter, they won the local round and then proceeded on to the finals, where they came this close to winning a trip to Memphis. The lineup is Dennis “Brillo” Albee on guitar, Eric Bartholomew on drums, Jim “Frenchie” French on harp and John Wentzien on bass. They’ll be making that long road trip again with every intention of rectifying the inequities of last year.

But if a prize was awarded for most miles traveled (nope, sorry) it would have to go to The Blues Explosion from the Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs area at the far end of the state. I didn’t understand why they would choose to drive right by Des Moines, where the other preliminary round is being held, in order to play here. Then it was explained to me that they had to do a weekend gig (Des Moines’ preliminaries are on a Thursday) because they didn’t want to miss a day of school. It turns out

The Blues Explosion

that Anna Kathol on vocals, Jimmy Sweeden on guitar, harp and vocals, Stephen Rieck and Jack Roh on guitar, Eric Gustafson and Nate Skinner on drums Daniel Rieck on bass and Richie Benda on keyboard, all range from eighth to twelfth grade! These eight young musicians got acquainted a couple years ago in a program similar to the Winter Blues Camp held recently by the River Music Experience, in conjunction with the MVBS, and they’ve compiled an extensive resume, playing almost twenty events since then. It’s a credit to their ambition and enthusiasm that they would agree to travel all that way with no guarantee they’ll even recoup their gas expenses. Maybe we can pass the hat for them or something, as they truly are the next generation of the blues.

But as always, one of the great things about the Blues Challenge is that it doesn’t matter if you came in from across the state or across the street. It doesn’t matter if you’re older than Honeyboy Edwards, or were born after Stevie Ray Vaughan passed on. It doesn’t matter if you used to back up R.L. Burnside, or played in a Nine Inch Nails cover band. Each band is scored by a knowledgeable and impartial panel of judges using a numerically weighted scoring system focusing primarily on blues content, originality and presentation. This serves to minimize any personal bias or favoritism, and it’s in the MVBS’ best interest that we select the most promising band to send to Des Moines, since we’d really like to see a return to the days when we used to dominate the IBC finals. The result is a competition in which one strong set of solid blues can send a band on its way to Des Moines, and perhaps to Memphis.

It’s all set to go down on Saturday, April 12^th at RIBCO, 1815 2^nd Avenue, in the District of Rock Island. The MVBS decided on this venue because we realize we haven’t had much of a presence on the Illinois side of the river lately. And it just seemed appropriate to hold the first round of the Iowa Blues Challenge in a different state, since over half our entries are from Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska, anyway. (Iowa, the Mecca of the blues! Who knew?) Besides, RIBCO is still one of the premier live music venues in the QC, and musicians always seem to appreciate the chance to play with top-notch equipment with a first-rate audio engineer, and the sound quality that combination produces.

All the fine print details haven’t quite been worked out as this goes to press, but you can figure things will get rolling around 8 p.m., and the cover charge should run between five and ten dollars. (Which works out to less than the price of one draft beer per band, so don’t even think about whining.) Bring a current membership card from any blues society to receive a discount. This is where it all starts, so show up, support the future of the blues, and help the Central Iowa and the Mississippi Valley Blues Societies keep the blues alive.

—Steve Pedigo

Next >

[ Back ]