Delta Boogie Network: All site blogs

...from the root to the fruit. ...blues/funk meets hip-hop!

Billy Jones Bluez — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:22:22 -0700

...from the root to the fruit ...blues/funk meets hip hop!

Blues Again! - French Blues Magazine cd review:
http://www.bluesagain.com/p_selection/selection%200413.html

Chicago Examiner cd review :
http://www.examiner.com/article/billy-jones-bluez-i-m-a-bluesman?cid=rss

Mississippi Travel &Tourism Commission :
http://downtheroad.tunicatravel.com/2013/02/tunica-live-music-spotlight-billy-jones-bluez/

"This guy has what it takes ...the music oozes sexuality ...he is totally his own man with a show-stopping style!"
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/billyjonesbluez2

Modern and traditional southern soul, funk/rock and urban contemporary blues.

The Billy Jones Story :
"...the times and travels of an american bluesman."
http://myspace.com/billyjonesbluez

The Urbanization of Delta Blues
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32550

songwriter, actor, guitar/vocal, entertainer
http://www.radiosubmit.com/rs/Billy_Jones/

"what really got to me were the lyrics. ...it is “blues” transformed, updated and urbanized."

Taking Blues to New Places with R&B, Soul, and Urban Style :
"Exquisite Modern and Traditional Blues and Neo-Soul by one of the most talented artists on the contemporary scene.
Billy Jones is a young, genius-level, totally charismatic veteran who shows all the signs of becoming as big or bigger than Buddy Guy. This young man has enormous talents.
I recently witnessed a 2-song DVD by Billy and his band that just added to my excitement regarding this on-stage dynamo who boasts movie-star good looks, a Huge voice, great guitar-playing and a Hot repertoire of tunes. All tracks were written by Billy ...and what a voice!
With Billy Jones showing so many talents and covering every single genre close to Blues, the Man is a ‘can’t miss’ star-in-the-making…No wait, he’s not in-the-making…He’s made!
If a major U.S. label doesn’t scoop up this high-level Blues genius within the next 3-4 months then we’re all in trouble! But, whatever happens, No One is going to keep a lid on Billy Jones. He’s off on-a-rocket folks and we certainly need a Big Blues talent like his."
"One of the very Best Authentic Modern Blues and Soul albums in recent memory."
http://www.realbluesmagazine.com/
http://myspace.com/billyjonesbluez

...gangsta bluez from the ghetto. ...gangsta bluez for the ghetto :
"Billy Jones is one of the ‘good guys’. He is a young man from Arkansas who is truly interested in advancing and extending ‘Great Soul Music' from the Ancient to the Future’ and making sure that it is available for future generations. As such he is one of my personal musical heroes. We don’t have enough artists like him and hopefully he is going to inspire others.
Updating the blues for the 21st century is not an easy matter... Billy Jones has managed it.
Think Bobby Womack with Curtis Mayfield's social conscience and you are getting close.
Perhaps the most important thing to note is that his sound is more acceptable to modern ears and maybe that will get more people to listen to his message.
Jones has a voice that will enchant you. This is a fine, soulful album.
It's a first person rumination about "growing up in the ghetto" that packs a poignant wallop. The message is deep and heartfelt... lyrically-inspired Contemporary R&B."
http://www.Soul-Patrol.com
http://www.blackplanet.com/billyjonesbluez

"Billy Jones brings back the Thrill that once belonged to Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush. ...A refreshing blast of the really great sound of Healing Blues, Jazz, Funk Music. Loaded with Rich Blues Tradition B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Even Johnny Winter Flavors. I'd recommend this to any avid blues listener and I look forward to hearing more from the reclusive Billy Jones." www.southerncoalitionmovement.com/billyjonesbluez
www.centerstagechicago.com/music/whoswho/BillyJonesBluez.html

The Incredible Resurrection, Metamorphosis and Re-invention of Blues and Soul Music :
"No one who I can think of, except perhaps James “Blood” Ulmer, has taken a truly contemporary look at traditional blues with the musical and lyrical intensity of Billy Jones. While Ulmer’s music is often dark and angry, Jones takes a more restrained and soulful approach while still expressing deep love, despair, and other intense feelings with his music.
Musically, there is a mix of styles on the CD. Jones can hammer out some hard, driving blues or go more traditional in his approach. But what really got to me were the lyrics. There are several songs where Billy gets into the urban problems of his "hometown."
The modern, urban blues lyrics start right from the beginning of the CD. He starts out with some slow jam/blues in a ballad called “Here With You”. He sings of how deep his love is: “your love is much warmer than my prison cell, so if the homies ride tonight I think I’m gonna stay right here”. With the second track, “Pull My 44”, Jones sings of a jealous lovers' rage. He describes his lovers' beauty and talks about how he’s jealous and if “I catch you messin’ wit’ my woman, Man I’m mo’ pull my 44”. The music has a Mississippi Delta component to it, yet it is modern and urban. Later, we hear “Crystal”; this is a semi-psychedelic rocking song about his addiction and the dangers of Crystal. It’s not a girlfriend named Crystal, but crystal methamphetamine. In the title track, “My Hometown’, Jones talks frankly about the problems in the ghetto. Schools not teaching you what to do, gangs, violence, meth labs, broken families, and a repressive system all become part of these modern blues.
Jones goes a more traditional R&B route with music and lyrics in cuts like “Right Now” and "Never Let You Go”. The deep bass notes driving the beat and his vocals are a throwback to an older soul era where he sings of loves won and lost. In “The Clown” Billy goes to his guitar and sweetly bends some notes to punctuate the song about his lost love, where he states “and girl for you I’m just a clown.”
Top to bottom, this is a nice little CD.
Jones calls his music “Bluez” and sings about the problems of his life and hometown with heart and feeling; it is “blues” transformed, updated and urbanized. This North Little Rock, Arkansas musician is the real deal and “my Hometown” is a great CD!"
http://crossroadsreviews.blogspot.com/

Billy Jones Bluez Links :
http://billyjonesbluez.hyves.net/ ...europe
http://myspace.com/billyjonesbluez ...usa ...Official Website
http://musictrax.jp/billy_jones_bluez ...japan
http://www.blackplanet.com/billyjonesbluez ...usa
http://losangeles.going.com/billyjonesbluez ...los angeles
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=551528789 ...usa
http://myspace.cn/billyjonesbluez ...china

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oWMVvlG64U ...video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raoYbdFUdrg ...video

http://www.liveforlondon.com/profile/billyjonesbluez;; ...united kingdom
http://www.nextcat.com/billyjonesbluez ...hollywood
http://reverbnation.com/billyjonesbluez ...usa
http://www.livebluesworld.com/profile/billyjonesbluez ...da' hangout
http://www.southerncoalitionmovement.com/billyjonesbluez ...da' homies

Bebopalooza! and more

Hairy Larry — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:20:18 -0700

Prequel to Bebopalooza!
KASU Jazz Thursday Blues Edition at TheArts@311.
April 25 at 6:30 - pass the hat
Featuring The Delta Blues Aces, Adriane Allyn, and Striding The Blast.
The Mudcats host a blues jam.

Bebopalooza!
April 26 1:00-5:00 pm at The ASU Pavilion - No cover charge
1:00 Caprice
2:00 CJ Hoover
2:20 Nathan Crouch
3:00 Jazz Alliance
4:15 Hairy Larry and George

Friday night
Mare Wakefield at TheArts@311
April 26 at 7:30 - $10 cover charge

Bebopalooza is sponsored by The Music Department, KASU, and TheArts@311. The ASU Pavilion is behind the stadium. TheArts@311 is at 311 S. Church. KASU is at 91.9 FM and kasu.org.

Delta Blues Symposium - 2013

Hairy Larry — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 12:07:20 -0700

“Roots Music Festival Planned for Jonesboro”

KASU, the Arkansas Folklife Program, and ASU's Department of English and Philosophy are
teaming up with the West End Neighborhood Association to present a Roots Music Festival
on April 20th as a part of Delta Symposium XIX. The event will feature an array of music
including blues, Americana, bluegrass, rockabilly, and folk.

The event begins with a 10:00 am walking tour that leaves from the Craighead County
Jonesboro Public Library. Northeast Arkansas AIA will lead an Architectural Walking Tour of
Jonesboro's West End. Design professionals and architects, Libii Fairhead, Jim Little, and John
Mixon will meet those taking the tour at the Jonesboro Public Library to provide a tour of
significant building in Jonesboro. The music begins at 12:00 noon at in the City, Water, and
Light Park at 1123 S. Culberhouse Street. In case of rain, the festival will move to the public
library.

At noon a Blues and Roots Music Showcase performance will open the show. Musicians
from around the area will play music in a range of regional styles. The opening acts will consist
of first and second place winners from the annual acoustic blues contest that will be held on
Wednesday, April 17th at 7:00 pm at the Arts @ 311 – 311 S. Church Street, Jonesboro.

The afternoon's entertainment continues with a performance by Sky City. Led by singer/
songwriter, Nathan Crouch, this group performs original acoustic music. Sky City placed highly
in last year's music contest and were favorite performers at last year's Roots Music Festival.
Memphis bluegrass band 2-Mule Plow returns to the Delta Symposium for 1:00
performance. Veteran bluegrass guitarist, Bill Yearwood, handles the lead vocals for this highly
acclaimed band. Their fine 3-part close harmonies are matched by virtuoso instrumentals. The
band plays the old traditional tunes as well as "bluegrassed" tunes by the Allman Brothers, Eric
Clapton, the Grateful Dead, and various country and blues-rock artists.

At 2:30 Cedric Burnside will take the stage. Burnside is a bluesman who is carrying on
the family tradition of his legendary grandfather, R. L. Burnside and his uncle Garry Burnside.
Burnside is a guitarist and vocalist, but he also is one of the finest drummers in the blues world,
having won the 2011 Blues Music Award for "Best Drummer of the Year." That year, he created
the new Cedric Burnside Project, playing both instruments. His band recently recorded the
CD "The Way I Am," and Burnside performs both original tunes and classic Delta blues in a
range of styles.

Following Burnside's performance, Jonesboro's own Plain Meanness will take the
stage. Drummer Greg Arnold is one of the creative forces behind this popular band that also
features the original songwriting and guitar playing of Patrick Dailey. The band's original
style is eclectic and original – while rooted in the music of the Arkansas Delta. Their full
length album "The Sower and the Reaper" is a witty and exciting concept album that features
sophisticated lyrics and a driving blend of rockabilly, surf rock, jazz, and country music that
gives them a unique sound.

The show's last set begins at 5:00 with the New Agrarians. Composed of three of the
finest singer/songwriters in the contemporary acoustic world, this band has been called one of
the only "supergroups" of the folk world. Tom Kimmel, Kate Campbell, and Pierce Pettis all
have vibrant solo careers, but they team up for unique performances. They perform songs of
stories from the Southland, and they're inspiration comes from sources as diverse as Vanderbilt
University's agrarian writers of the early 20th century to the Old Testament's "Song of Solomon."
Members of the band are all highly honored singers, instrumentalists, and songwriters. Members
of the band's compositions have been recorded by numerous recording artists, including Johnny
Cash, Waylon Jennings, Randy Travis, Garth Brookes, and Dion and the Belmonts.

The Delta Symposium has been coordinated through ASU’s English and Philosophy
Department for the past eighteen years. The Roots Music Festival is one of several events,
and this year’s program begins on Wednesday April 17th at the Reng Student Center. The
symposium is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and all
events are free and open to the public. Further information is available by contacting the Delta
Symposium Committee or by checking the Symposium Web site: http://altweb.astate.edu/blues/
or on Facebook.

Chris "Stinger" Stevens at TheArts@311

Hairy Larry — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:22:20 -0700

We have a guest guitarist coming in from Illinois, Chris "Stinger" Stevens. Some of you know him from his performances at the bandshell.

He is doing a solo acoustic show Friday night and will also be guest at New Jazz In Jonesboro on Saturday.

Both events are at TheArts@311 and both start at 7:00. Friday Chris is playing acoustic songs from his new CD "Blues and Beyond". Then Chris is giving us a set of his original jazz and blues Saturday at 7:00 followed by NJHB. He told me he wants guests to play on his set so come and jam Saturday night.

New NJHB CD, Colossus, from our February 2 show at New Jazz In Jonesboro.

Hairy Larry — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 05:41:31 -0800

NJHB lived up to New Jazz in Jonesboro, performing all originals on February 2. Band members, Matt Jackson, Don Bowyer and Hairy Larry contributed compositions to the evening. What a treat to hear these guys bring their talent to the stage, not just with their writing skills, but also in their performance.

- Vivian Heyl

Here's the NJHB website.

njhb.org

Here's the show on the Live Music Archive.

archive.org/details/hl2013-02-02

Photos by Robin Gasaway

Invite to Jazz Thursday featuring Caprice tonight, Jan 24 at 6:30

Hairy Larry — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:33:35 -0800

Hi,

It's Jazz Thursday tonight featuring Caprice. The show is at
TheArts@311 and it starts at 6:30. After Caprice plays there will be a
set we call Jamming With The Swing Band Project where instrumentalists
and vocalists are invited to participate. The Swing Band Project
specializes in Swing Jazz and Western Swing standards but we also do
Blues, Folk, Rock, and Country songs. Jazz Thursday is a KASU event
and is held on the 4th Thursday of the month.

There is another monthly jazz program at TheArts@311 called New Jazz
In Jonesboro featuring the house band, NJHB and guests. At New Jazz In
Jonesboro we do original charts. Guest musicians and composers are
welcome. This program is held on the first Saturday of the month.

If you would like to get regular reminders about the jazz programs at
TheArts@311 you can sign up for the newsletter here.

http://deltaboogie.net/profile/jazzthursday

If you would like to no more about New Jazz In Jonesboro and NJHB go here.

http://njhb.org

Thanks,

Hairy Larry

Jazz Thursday, Hairy Larry and George, New Jazz In Jonesboro

Hairy Larry — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:46:04 -0800

Jazz Thursday, Hairy Larry and George, New Jazz In Jonesboro

Hi,

Jazz Thursday begins again at 6:30 on January 24 at TheArts@311, 311 S. Church St. in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The featured act this month is Caprice, an outstanding group of ASU jazz students who take their music seriously. These guys play standards and originals and they always put on a fantastic show. They were one of the top acts at Bebopalooza! last spring. Following Caprice will be Jamming With The Swing Band Project featuring our new Swing Band member, Fred Brown, from Pocahontas, Arkansas. The Swing Band Project will be inviting guests to the stage to play or sing so bring your instrument and join in. There is no cover charge but KASU will pass the hat for Caprice.

I want to thank our KASU Jazz Thursday sponsors, KASU (of course), Gregg Langford Bookout Funeral Home, TheArts@311, and Infectious Disease Control Consultants (that's CJ). So thanks guys for helping me take it to the next level. Kaboom!

Then on Friday, January 25 Hairy Larry and George with Zif and Cheryl will be playing at SkinnyJs from 8:00 - 11:00. SkinnyJs is on Main St. near the overpass. It's going to be great fun so stop by and enjoy the music. There is a cover charge at SkinnyJs.

Right around the corner is New Jazz In Jonesboro featuring NJHB and guests. We will be playing at TheArts@311 from 8:00 - 10:00 on Saturday February 2. It's called New Jazz because we play all original compositions. Besides my charts Matt Jackson brought some songs in January and Joseph Curtis is going to bring some new stuff in too. We always welcome guest musicians and composers. At New Jazz In Jonesboro there's no cover and no hat. Just come and enjoy yourself.

NJHB had a recording session in December and I got a CD, "Circular Logic" out of that. Then we had our first gig January 5 and I got a CD out of that too, "Bella's Blues". I've also produced a video on my song "Colossus" and I'm planning on doing a couple more videos from our January 5 show. If you can't wait until February to hear the kind of noise we make you can check us out at the NJHB website.

http://njhb.org

School's back in session and this term I'm playing or singing in eight bands counting my classes, student groups, the jam groups, and my pro band. So I'm more than a little busy especially since I write or arrange for many of these groups. And I'm hoping to have a composition recital this term. I'll let you know the details.

If any of you are playing in eight bands let me know. Or if you're playing in one band and you're excited about what you're doing let me know. Over break I redid the Delta Boogie Network. Email me to join. Or just email me and let me know what you've been doing. If you've got any new music on the net shoot me a link. Inquiring ears want to hear.

http://deltaboogie.net

Thanks,

Hairy Larry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com

Tune in to Something Blue on KASU, 91.9 FM or kasu.org at 10:00 PM Saturday nights. You never know what I'm going to play. Just this month I've played both Caprice and NJHB.

How to promote your band on the internet for $10 a year.

Hairy Larry — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:29:06 -0800

Hi,

This is what I call The Big Picture. Not a comprehensive everything you can possibly do (because, of course, that's impossible) but, instead a good starting place for promoting your act on the internet.

1. Your domain and website on Tumblr

2. Reverbnation

3. YouTube

4. Live Music Archive

-----

Your domain and website. - tumblr.com

This is the part that costs $10 per year, the domain name registration. There are many domain name registrars, I can recommend gotonames, dreamhost, and arvixe. Try to choose a domain name so that when you tell your audience to visit your website from the stage they will be able to remember it and type it in. Avoid dashes and numbers unless the numbers are actually part of your band name.

You don't absolutely need a domain name. You could use yourbandname.tumblr.com. But having a domain name shows your audience that you are serious enough about your music to go to the work to set up a website at your domain name. And it's only $10/year.

Many registrars offer free hosting with your domain name purchase but I am recommending using tumblr as your main website because it's easy to set up and use and it's easy to point your domain name to it so that when your fans type in yourbandname.com they come up at your tumblr blog which is your website. Just go to tumblr.com and set up yourbandname.tumblr.com and play around with it. See. Easy.

Reverbnation - reverbnation.com

Reverbnation is a wonderful social network for musicians and a great platform for bands but, more importantly, they have great tools. In particular I like their mail list (fanreach), their tunes widgets, and their schedule. All of these are available as widgets so you can use them on your other sites, not just on Reverbnation. Go to Delta Boogie and at the top of the page you will see a form to sign up for the Delta Boogie email list. That is a Reverbnation fan collector widget at work.

So make recordings of your original songs and upload them to Reverbnation. Then you can spread them around the web as widgets. When you add a new song it shows up everywhere you have a widget. Enter your show schedule and everywhere you have the schedule widget it will automatically be updated with your upcoming gigs.

YouTube - youtube.com

So you get a YouTube channel and upload your videos. You will have to get a gmail account since YouTube is run by Google. But that's not bad. You need a good booking email account anyway, something like yourbandname@gmail.com. If you don't have videos of your band get your friend with a camcorder to come to your gigs and make some. Again, it's best to upload originals. YouTube widgets are called embeds. It's what makes YouTube work. You upload to YouTube and you play the video anywhere. And your friends and fans can too.

Live Music Archive - archive.org

Record your live shows CD quality or better and upload the entire show to archive.org as part of the Live Music Archive. For free! No kidding. If you are not already hip to the Live Music Archive check it out. There's tons of good music there and yours should be too.

Here's a show we played on December 7, 2012 that I uploaded to the Live Music Archive.

Hairy Larry and George with Cheryl and Zif Live at The Edge on 2012-12-07

Cool, huh?

And this is how the Delta Boogie Network works. We run on Reverbnation widgets and YouTube embeds. We provide links to your website whether it's a tumblr blog or a custom designed music site.Delta Boogie Radio and Something Blue play mp3s off of the Live Music Archive. My YouTube blues and jazz playlists play on Delta Boogie Video and YouTube embeds drive the BoogieTube.

Because it's a new world promoting music on the internet. You get your fans retail, one at a time, by friending them and showing respect. And an album a year doesn't cut it anymore. You keep your fans by constantly posting new music, videos, and photos. They want you every week. Not just a couple of times a year.

Please leave a comment and add your tips for promoting music on the internet. If you're not already a member of the Delta Boogie Network send me an email and I'll sign you up.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry - hairylarry@deltaboogie.com