I Gots da BLUES!!!

Ed was there when I first met her, he was standing right next to me. He can verify what breed she is. We went to go see her band to write a feature article about them for The Buzz News, our live music newsletter that we published back in 1999-2000. We watched a set or two then went up to introduce ourselves. The minute we said, "Hi, we are here to write about your band for a feature story for The Buzz News," she responded, "NO THANKS!! I want nothing to do with you or your newspaper."  "Really, why would you feel that way?", thinking what did we do? She apparently did not like one of our advertisers because she thinks he had done her wrong and stated that he must be my little buddy or something. If I recall we did not write the article or feature them. That was 14 years ago.

I still supported her and her band.

Mark Arshak and I at the first Jackson Blues Fest 2001

A few years later (2001)she started up a music festival. It was held at the Kuhl's Bell Tower Market. There was 4 bands and I knew all of them, personally. Let me see if I can remember Mark Arshak Band, Automatic Blues Band, Johnny Reed and the Houserockers and that other band.  I was sitting in the front row and had a blast. Talked to a lot of folks that I knew. Had a hot dog and an ice cream cone. If anyone wanted an adult beverage, they just walked up to the Red Moose. One part of the event planning that I liked was that the audience got a little taste of each band and then later they were all booked in downtown bars or restaurants. Great idea. There was great electricity in the air. It was a fun urban event. I think she tolerated my presence there but I am thinking she wasn't thrilled. There was a dispute with the Kuhl's and the next year the festival (I say that loosely) moved to the Jackson County Fairgrounds.

The next year at the Fairgrounds property (owned by Jackson County) the festival went on. There was a nice line up of blues musicians. Most of them I knew or had met through The Buzz News. I chatted backstage with some of them. If you wanted an adult beverage you just walked across the street to the bar. The traffic to and from the bar was heavy. I left when "that other band" played. Had a couple beers and wandered back. I met a man over there that invited me to enjoy a cold one at the festival. He had a cooler full. It was now dark out. We cracked one open and soon after that we decided (slightly drunk) to break open the dance floor. A great band was up and no one had danced all evening. They all just sat there listening. Well, I carried the freshly opened beer up to the dance floor. I set it down next to a trash can and proceeded to dance. It worked, a lot of people got up out of their seats and filled the dance floor. It only takes one brave fool. I thought I was helping her and was feeling good about myself. Then a tap came on my shoulder. It was her. She saw me set the beer down at the trash can earlier. She asked me to leave because I was seen drinking. There was no alcohol allowed on the premises. I was heading towards my seat. I had no beer in my hand. Prove that I had a beer. I was having so much fun I didn't want to leave. She knows I just opened her dance floor and started the party. I was given a reprieve. She allowed me to stay. I had no more beers out of the cooler, I just went across the street if I wanted another.

The following year went well. Don't really recall. There was a beer trailer on the grounds. It was authorized to drink there. All was well. But alas, there was a dispute with the Fairgrounds so they looked for another location.

She found the airport grounds. Owned by the County but beer could be served via the liquor license at the airport restaurant. I fully supported her festival and the growth of it. I was thrilled for Jackson that Blues music was offered to the masses.

I remember enjoying a couple of good years there. Just music, friends, beer, sunshine.

Years ago I dated for a while on Match.com and one of my dates was a harmonica player from the Detroit area. A tall drink of whiskey. Mark Robinson. He played in a band called The Motor City Sheiks. The Sheiks were scheduled to open the festival at 4 or 5 pm. I really wanted to see them and catch up with Mark. I had to work. By the time I got to the festival, they were just getting off the stage. He saw me and was coming straight towards me, she intercepted. I backed off. They hugged, she thanked him and then pointed him in the direction of the tent where he had to sell his CDs for an hour. He then came up to me and gave me a big hug and invited me to go chat in the CD tent. We sat down to talk old times and new stuff and he offered me a sip of his whiskey, that he carried in his inside jacket pocket. He really paid more attention to me than he did the CD sales. I was the one that sold the CDs. I would see someone that looked curious about them and I would get up and make the sale, then go back to sippin' whiskey and talking.

Mark Robinson, Motor City Sheiks is the handsome man, on on the right. 

I had taken a friend that knew most of the bikers in town and he was sweet enough to stand just outside the tent area and let me have time with an old friend. He kind of stood guard, so to speak. I sort of noticed the "goons" approach the tent area. I didn't really pay attention. Wesley was chatting with them. I figured they were all friends. Nothing happening here. Well, the hour was up and Mark and I hugged and parted ways. I went back to hang with Wesley and he then told me that the goons were sent over by her to remove me from the CD tent. He stopped them and told them that it was a personal issue and that I was doing nothing wrong and it would be best to stay out of it. They did. Good thing too but now I was kinda pissed. I really can get in that much trouble without trying?

Wesley

I went kinda upset to the beer tent to get me an adult beverage. It was kinda obvious that I was displeased. A friend approached me to ask me if I was OK. I said NO, I am not OK. I am pissed. He asked me if I would like to go hang out in her dressing room/motor home. I said, "Right, how are we going to do that?" He then said it was his motor home and he can invite anyone in it. I said, "Well, then let's go!"

The following year (the last time I will ever go there) I missed most of the festival. I did however promise Laurie that I would go see her. She was in the closing band on the final night. They were from Flint area. I had never met Laurie but we had talked a few times on the internet. My day started out at Noon. I had a graduation party to attend. I wasn't going to drink there so I could make it to the 10 pm band, at the festival. When I arrived the host had purchased me a bottle of Piesporter, my favorite wine. How could I let him down and refuse it? It was good.

Then the Red Wings were in the playoffs and the game was long and went into overtime. The fellas that I was watching the game with, passed around a bottle of Schnapps and every time the Redwings scored everyone in the room had to take a sip...for good luck. I think the score was 15-10. I don't recall the score but we were pretty drunk. The game was finally over and we were thinking our day was over.....until I remembered that I promised to be there to see the last band at 10pm. Shit. We have to go. We did. Three guys and myself piled into a little sports car and off we went. We all paid out $5 to get in and went front row. It was the last band of the last night and it was raining at a pretty good clip. I was so drunk I took a folding chair to sit in. I was determined to see this band. The vendors were all packing up, the audience was gone. There was no one there except us. Jimmy parked my chair in the center front of the stage. I parked my drunk ass in the chair. He went and got me a beer. Like I needed that!!! I propped my feet up on the edge of the stage and was just in music Heaven listening to the Rusty Wright Band. Live music is my drug.

 I was just getting into it and a little squeaky guy that was dressed like a biker, kicked my ankles. Hard. Above the music I asked him if I knew him. I thought someone was messing with me. You know, like a long forgotten friend tapping you on the wrong shoulder, to be funny. He said, "NO! Get 6 ft. back. You are not allowed to have your feet on the stage." I looked around and except for the three guys that came with me, I was the only one there. Is this really an issue? Remember I was pretty drunk. I am not an angry drunk. I am a hugging drunk. I just get happier. I wanted to comply with the unposted rule of "Stay 6 ft. BACK", so I got up out of the chair and went about 12 ft. back (just to be sure) and stood there with my hands behind my back. Peacefully. He then picked up the cloth chair by the back and threw it towards me. Beer in the cup holder and all. Now, there is beer spilled all over the chair and I can't sit down. Well I could I guess because if you remember it also was raining. I just straightened the chair up so it didn't look like a crime scene and backed off, peacefully.

The next thing I know there is three goons standing between me and the stage with their arms crossed. The average height was 5'1" so it wasn't really an issue because I could easily see right over them but it was kind of irritating like a fly that keeps hovering around your lunch. I did not confront them, I acted like they were not there. It was kind of foolish really. They treated me like I had tried to rush the stage or something. Whatever!!

Then Laurie left the stage with her cordless mic and guitar and walked over to me and stood about an inch from me. Nose to nose. The goons walked off. Their job was done. Laurie played for me and when the song was over she wandered back up to her position on the stage. She told me the next morning (via Instant Message) that she saw me walk in, sit down, get kicked, chair thrown and then surrounded by them and she figured she could solve all of it if it appeared that we were good friends. Game OVER. Thanks Laurie.

I took a program home with me. The goons were on the back page. I showed a biker friend of mine. She went to talk to them to find out the truth. She asked how it went at the festival. They said there was no issues except for this one woman on the last night. She asked what happened and they told her that they were instructed to go get in my face. Hmmmmm. So that is how it goes?

I decided that day to not return. I want to. I love the music. I know most of the bands. Most of my friends will be there. I am not a simple fan. I am connected to this music. I was on the board of the Capital Area Blues Society for 4 years. I would like to continue to support her. I can't. I won't play her little immature game of cat and mouse. Not any more. I am done.

I think I will clean my closet out this weekend. All of them.

I totally forgot about the day she came to the CABS board meeting in Lansing. I was voted in as President of the Capital Area Blues Society and presented my thoughts of holding a blues show at the Michigan Theatre in Jackson. One of the board members let her know. She called me at home and said, "Let's forget all the issues of the past and work together, for once. We can help each other." said the spider to the fly. A couple of weeks later she shows up to the board meeting and asked if she could have a couple of minutes on the agenda. She "acted" peaceful but you could see it in her face. We went through some items that needed to be done first then I looked at her and said, "It is your time now. What can we do for you?" She stood up and turned evil. She addressed the board members and said, "It appears that your President is thinking of throwing a blues show in Jackson at the Michigan Theatre. I am here to tell you that this is wrong and it crosses territorial lines. She has no business throwing a blues show in Jackson. This is the Capital Area Blues Society. I am here to ask you for your support in this matter. I would like a vote to see who is with me on this."

That is working together? Wow!! Turns out that her actions were motivated by money. She did not want me tapping Jackson businesses for sponsors for the show. 

My brain was still trying to figure out where the territorial lines were. Three out of the last four years, a Jackson area band had won the Blues Brawl that they have at the Green Door, to determine who they send to Memphis for the IBC competition. This year another Jackson area band won. So, our bands can come up there and win but we can't throw a blues show in her territory. I can't believe they voted against me. Well, I can because they didn't want to leave their comfort zone.....but still. I was their President. 

She also complained to the board that I had tried to take over the reigns of the Jackson Area Blues Society. She was the founder and President of JABS. I had no interest or intention of having anything to do with them. It was her gig. What happened was..... some of her board members had come to me and asked me if I would step into that position so they could remove her. I laughed and said Hell No. By the time the story got to her she heard that I had tried to de-throne her. Nope!!