Train Wreck in Memphis
Well folk’s, we played our asses off, the crowd went wild, and we lost. The consensus in the room was that it was between us and one other band – and it went their way. Youth and exuberance won out over age and soul, plus they had two killer horn players and a screamin’ guitarist. They were both excellent and deserving.
Scroll down for a more detailed narrative of our adventures.
January 26, 2008
From Jane:
It all started in August of 2006 when, just days before the deadline, I sent $20, a demo and an 8x10 color glossy picture to the Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation (SABHF) to be entered into the Tucson Blues Challenge. Unfortunately, I put the wrong zip code on the envelope, and they weren’t going to look at the $20, the demo and the 8x10 color glossy picture in it that it took 10 days, yes 10 days to get to the Foundation. I was only one number off!! Once it was received, I got a very nice e-mail from the Foundation saying they couldn’t let us in even though they would have liked to, but it wouldn’t be fair to other entries that arrived late; perhaps next year.
Well, here it is a year later, August again (2007) and Sean and I just got back from a week-long trip to Chicago. I open up the e-mail and there is a message from Char Rogers from the SABHF reminding me that the deadline is a week away if we want to enter the Blues Challenge. Thank goodness she e-mailed me because I had forgotten all about it, being away and all. I put together the above mentioned items, checked the zip code twice, had other people check the zip code, twice, and sent it off with the help of Amy down at the post office in Warren, AZ.
A bit later we got the news we were scheduled to play against 8 other bands on September 16th at 5:25pm (next to last). We went up to Tucson to Club Congress and met a lot of great people and competed against some talented bands. We got an e-mail Sunday night, the 16th, that read:
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 10:53 PM
To: Jane@train-wreck.com
Subject: Blues Challenge
Hi Jane,
Well I hope you all are up to traveling to Tucson again next Sunday, because
Train Wreck received the highest total of points from the Judges we had for
this round. Congratulations! The bands scheduled time to play is 5:45 p.m.
to 6:15 p.m. Points are not cumulative, so everyone starts with a clean slate
for the Final round. We will have six bands moving on because of a tie. Remember
we do not have a back line so you will need to bring everything except the
basic drum kit.
On behalf of SABHF, I want to thank you for your participation, support and
dedication to keeping the Blues alive. We look forward to see you next Sunday.
Ginny Migliazza
Blues Challenge Coordinator
Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Coordinator
So, we went back on September 23, played last, and won first place. We were going to Memphis!!
We went home and planned out the next 3 months so we would be ready. We used a DVD shot at the finals as a fundraiser, and between that and the prize money raised enough to pay for airfare and hotel for the 5 band members and me, and for a cash stipend of spending money for everybody for Memphis.
I made plane and hotel reservations for 9 people (that was interesting) including reservations for 7 of us who stayed after the IBC was over. We all grumbled a little about the 6am meeting at the Tucson Airport on January 30th. We filled out the application at Sonic Bids for the Challenge (not an easy task, I must say). Everybody read the rules a few times over. There are many rules and regulations and some are just not clear at all or even contradictory so there were many e-mails flying back and forth, but in the end it all worked out and we didn’t lose points on our application (as far as I know). Points are awarded or taken away for just about everything, starting with the application!
We played at the Tucson Blues Festival at Reid Park on October 21st and had a GREAT time. We were welcomed with open arms by everybody including the audience who bought approximately 50 CD’s/DVD’s!! Our biggest sale ever at a gig.
Sean wrote a few new songs; the guys recorded them and we put out a new CD entitled “Blue Train” just in time to be sent to Memphis for selling at the IBC (we sold 7).
Wednesday, January 30th
Everybody got to the airport at the appointed time (Sean and I were a little bit late) and we all flew out together: Sean, Mike & his wife Judy, Frank, Kenny, Scott & his wife Becky and their son Gilbert, and myself. We had a layover in Houston and arrived in Memphis around 2pm. We got a van to take all 9 of us and our luggage to the Doubletree Inn (we took up every inch of that van). The Doubletree Inn was the host hotel so it was filled with musicians and their friends and family. Needless to say, the atmosphere was very friendly.
We met up with Kyle Deibler from the Phoenix Blues Society and three guys from the San Diego Blues Society and went to Huey’s for burgers (the best in town). The guys had a short practice in our hotel room. Sean and I went to the meet and greet at the New Daisy and ran into Ali from SABHF and she introduced us to a few people. Some of the guys went out and listened to music and partied after the practice. Sean was fighting off a chest cold, and felt like he needed to turn in.
Thursday, January 31st
We got up and found the IBC Program which lists the venues and bands and the times we would play both today and Friday. Our venue was Wet Willies. Today, we will play our 25 minute set at 10:10pm, second to last. On Friday we play at 8:25pm, right in the middle of the pack; same venue, same 10 bands, with a different set of 3 judges each night.
The band had breakfast at the hotel (TGI Fridays), then band registration, then we all hit the Blues Foundation merchandising table for caps and t-shirts.
Friends and family started showing up on Thursday. My sister Elizabeth & her husband Dave from Kansas; our friends Linda & Nancy, Dave & Jen, & Mara from Bisbee; Ben from Chicago; Bob from Maryland; Marion from Memphis/Bisbee; Jen’s Dad & brother from Ohio.
Sean and I had lunch at the Peabody hotel (with a quick hello to the Ducks) with Nancy and Linda – a great meal, then back to the room to chill out before Sean had to attend orientation. By the time that was over, it was time to get dressed for the gig.
It turns out Wet Willies isn’t really a live music venue; it’s more of a dance club. Needless to say, that presented some technical challenges for the bands. Here’s an excerpt of the email Sean sent to the organizers of the IBC when we got back. If you aren’t interested in technical stuff, feel free to skip this section.
Dear Jay and Joe,
First, let me say that we are thrilled to have been a part of this year’s IBC. I wanted to give you the heads-up on the situation we encountered in Wet Willies during the IBC. I don’t know how long your organization has been working with that particular establishment, but I can say unequivocally that this year they were completely unprepared and unable to deal with live music on the level necessary to provide any kind of support to the event.
As the venue start time came and went and the looks of bewilderment and frustration set in, I stepped up to the soundman and offered my assistance, which he immediately accepted. I asked a few basic questions about the way the system was set up that he was unable to answer (other than to tell me someone came by yesterday, dropped it all off, ran a few wires, and left). I looked over the install and discovered that while the one power amp was supposed to run both mains and monitors, it was dip-switch strapped for mono/bridge. There was only one return from the mixer (fed from an aux send), the monitor speaker cables were plugged into the power amp inputs, the list goes on, but you get the idea. The venue soundman had no clue what was going on – I don’t say this to be mean, he simply did not know the first thing about setting up a PA, nor was he familiar with the concept of the appropriate and pleasing blending of signals, as became painfully obvious the next night.
I was able to work through the series of issues, get the PA up (using one of my bass players instrument cables for the monitor send), dial in a meager amount of monitor before they started ringing (there was not a graphic EQ anywhere in the system) and get the first band up and running, ½ hour late. Fortunately they only had two singers, as we had only two mics. By the end of the night we were able to find 3 more mics, but alas only 2 more cables and stands. This was a limiting factor for more than one band.
Once the first band was up and running, the venue sound man disappeared, leaving me at the sound board! He reappeared between bands only long enough to say “check on 2” into every mic, perfectly happy to let me run sound all night. Thursday night my band played 2nd to last, so staying was not an issue, but I would have preferred not to have to work all night before going on.
Friday night at our 5:30 start time the sound man was a no-show, and the venue coordinator had no choice but to ask me to get them up and running again. Over the course of the day one of the monitor speakers had malfunctioned and was now causing the power amp to shut down – so I shut off the monitors. Someone from the club produced a Mackie powered cabinet, so we hooked that up between acts, but without any EQ it was woefully ineffective.
Friday night my band was in the middle of the pack, and I let the venue coordinator know I was going to be leaving the venue shortly after our set. I had been fighting off a fever and chest infection throughout this ordeal, and I was feeling quite depleted. When we were done, I had to go. Matt was gracious and understanding.
As best as I can tell, Wet Willies is set up as a DJ/dance club, with a house PA (that I was able to tap into) set up partially facing the stage area (usually the dance floor?) and not enough coverage for much of the room. I say again, the venue was unprepared and unable to deal with the needs of the kinds of performers the IBC brings to town.
Having said all of this, please understand I’m not complaining - I would do it all again if that’s what was needed. I am proud and thrilled to have participated in such an outstanding event – truly one of the highlights of my 35 year career as a performer, and my guys all feel the same way. For that, we thank you.
Sean
We showed up at 5pm with gear in hand and if you read the letter to the organizers
you know the schedule is running about ½ hour late. All of our friends
started filtering in to support us, including Ali from SABHF, Kyle from PBS,
Kenny T. from 56 Deluxe and a contingent from Florida – we can’t thank you
all enough. The band went on around 10:45 and there were a lot of people there
including the other bands who now all know who Sean is due to his sound “duties”
that night. One band was getting ready to leave and came by to thank Sean
for fixing the sound system, but stuck around a few extra minutes just because
Sean was about to play. The band played really well, and got a great response
from the crowd. The last band of the evening, Pryor Baird and the Deacons,
took the stage and played a really hot set. Several people came up to us and
suggested that Train Wreck was the crowd favorite of the night.
(From Sean: We were very happy with our performance, and we felt like we did bring something to the stage that others did not, but I was pretty sure that Pryor Baird was a better fit for the competition. Still, it was a good feeling to feel like maybe we had a chance…)
Marion had a reception in her hotel room Thursday night with a wonderful buffet of food and drink so we all headed there and stayed until 2am.
Friday, February 1st
Friday everybody did their own thing. A few of us met for lunch at Pig on Beale where Ali joined us after outbidding me on a silent auction item!! Neither of us would have gotten it anyway; we were out bid by a stranger. A little shopping on Beale Street, then I went back to the hotel to hear the event keynote speaker, director John Sayles, speak about his new movie “The Honeydrippers.” Sean, Kenny, Mike, and Bob toured the Gibson Guitar factory (Sean in a Fender sweatshirt), then back to the room to get ready. We had to be back at Wet Willies at 5pm again to check in, and so we grabbed a table and settled in to wait until our 8:25 set. Again, the sound guy didn’t show up on time so Sean was asked to run sound again. He does (he’s not feeling so good and would like to save his energy for the show) and this time everyone started on time.
At 8pm my son Matt & his girlfriend Jamie showed up as a surprise (from Seattle). Just in time to see the band—such timing they have.
The band did another outstanding job (maybe even better than the night before), once again elevating the energy in the crowd to a point no one else achieved on either night, and it was the general consensus that there were only two bands that it could come down to—Train Wreck and Pryor Baird and the Deacons (alas, it was not to be our day). As we packed up our stuff to leave, Pryor Baird was starting their set (yes, they went on immediately after us both nights) and we went to hear a few bands at the Hard Rock Café. We went back to Wet Willies at 11:30 to hear the announcement of the winners in all the venues (10 in all). It was a slight disappointment, but we were happy that Pryor and his band won. They certainly deserved it—they put on a good show.
Then we went back to Marion’s for another reception for the band and drank some champagne and ate and had a great time hanging out.
Saturday, Feb. 2
This was the day of the finals, held at the gorgeous Orpheum Theatre from 2-7. We went with about 14 other people and sat three rows behind the judges. Kenny Wayne Shepherd was a judge (we gave him one of our new CD’s) along with 8 or so other people. It was interesting to hear who won in the other venues. Quite a wide variety of blues music, and a great showing of talent. You can see some video of the winners at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndmPW8CdqU0 – they were fantastic. Unfortunately, the video clip does not show the young lady singing, the true strength of the group.
Saturday evening we had reservations at Pat O’Brien’s for a band/friends/family dinner so we went back to our hotel to get ready. For Sean, this included a quick shave – of his HEAD! Something he had been contemplating for a while, and this just seemed like a good time to do it. Much to everyone’s surprise, we like it! We had 20 for dinner – Sean and I, Mike and Judy, Frank, Kenny, Scott, Becky and Gilbert, Matt and Jamie, Dave and Elizabeth, Linda and Nancy, Ben, Bob, Mara, Kyle, and Marion. Again, thank you all for an amazing show of support.
After dinner, the group broke up and a few of us made it over to Rum Boogie just in time to hear Kenny T. from 56 Deluxe pulling off some tasty licks at the jam, then just hung out for a while listening to Super Chikan, Bob Margolin, and Zack Harmon (who was one of the finals judges), among others. Back to Marion’s room for a last night of everyone hanging out, then back to our room to pack up, as Sean and I, Mike and Judy, and Scott, Becky and Gilbert all had to change hotels in the morning. Frank and Kenny and most of the entourage would all leave Sunday.
A big sigh of relief – the work is done, we did what we came to do, now a little vacation…
Sunday, February 3rd through Wednesday February 6th
We packed all of our stuff into Matt and Jamie’s rental SUV and headed off to Bosco’s Squared for brunch, meeting up with Ben, Marion, Elizabeth and Dave, with a great menu of Eggs Benedict variations, excellent grits, killer bloody marys – you get the idea! A great brunch, then Sean and I, Matt and Jamie, and Ben headed off for a whirlwind tour of Graceland (the kids had a plane to catch). We’ve been warned that the mansion is very un-mansion-like, and it’s true – the rooms are all relatively small, but we all agreed we’re glad we saw it - the outfits, the gold records (and gold cassettes!), the jungle room…we would have felt bad missing it.
We checked into the new hotel and say goodbye to the kids – The Comfort Inn, right on the river. Sean and I, with Ben, Elizabeth and Dave tried to find someplace for dinner, discovering that much of Memphis is closed on Sunday. We ended up a Jillian’s, a sports bar in Peabody Place – which is perfectly appropriate, since it is Super Bowl Sunday. Beer, wings, dips, and lots of people cheering for both teams.
Monday Sean and I meet Mike and Judy at the shuttle for the Sun Studio tour. The tour is short but very cool and we have a great tour guide. Sean and Mike pose with Elvis’ microphone, the main room is much as Sam Phillips constructed it, and after most of the rest of the tour has left, Sean asks if we can check out the control room, which we do (mostly redone, but still the original bathroom!).
That afternoon we all took a cab to The Stax Museum, which is a much longer and intensive tour (although not in the original Stax location), and is as much a history lesson as it is a musical experience – it is not to be missed!
That evening the four of us met up with Scott, Becky and Gilbert for a feast at Gus’ World Famous Fried Chicken, and the name does not lie!
The next morning Sean and Mike and I walked to the National Civil Rights Museum, which is housed in the Lorraine Hotel building, only to be told that they were closed on Tuesdays. As we stood outside below the balcony where Dr. King was shot, a museum worker came outside and asked us if we could wait just a bit, she was asking the director if they could open! Well, they did open for us and a small school tour; we had the place to ourselves! An incredible and moving experience. We all agreed - to be standing in the hotel and be looking out the windows that is directly behind Dr. King, and be looking in the same direction (towards the shooter) that everyone in the now famous photograph is pointing was indescribable.
We left the museum and met up with Judy, Scott, Becky, and Gilbert at Rendezvous for their famous ribs – only to be told that they are closed for lunch on Tuesday! But apparently there were enough people trying to get in that they decided to open with a limited menu – ribs, slaw, beans, and bread. So that’s what we all had for lunch!
After lunch, Sean and I took a stroll through a park down to the Mississippi river (Sean can now say he has skipped stones on the Big Muddy) and across an historic cobblestone wharf. We never did figure out why Tennessee has cannons pointed at Arkansas…
When we got back to the hotel, Mike and Judy told us that there were tornado warnings just as the warning sirens started up! We spent the next several hours watching the news as the deadliest storm in 20 years swept through the area. We only saw wind and rain, but at one point the hotel called everyone on the upper floors and asked them to come down to the lobby – Becky, up on the 12th floor, came down and hung out with us on the 1st floor.
During a break in the storm, Sean and I walked a few blocks down to a sushi bar and had a very nice (and quiet! Nobody was out on the town) dinner, and got back to our room as the sirens started up again. We packed up our stuff and set the alarm for 4:00am to catch a 6am flight.
We got to the airport to be informed our takeoff was delayed 3 hours due to wind damage at the airport, but that just meant we would have to wait in Houston for only 3 hours (instead of 6 hours, our original flight schedule). Back in Tucson by 4:30pm, home by 6pm.
Folks, we had a GREAT Time - Thanks to all that made the trip possible. It
was a once (?) in a lifetime experience...