October 20-22nd--Arlington Vintage Guitar Show--Arlington, TX--I
was just an observer. Gary was hosting the post-event jam session
at the Windham Hotel next to the convention center and I decided to tag
along to visit an old friend in DFW. Not wanting to spend much
time lurking around half-a-million guitars and fifty-thousand guitar
players, I opted to lay low until the jam session started. These
jam sessions can be a model for musical peaks and valleys. Gary
had a host rhythm section that was as good as ever...solid drummer and
killer bass player. I sat back to observe and listen which can be
nice sometimes when there is no pressure to perform. Especially in
front of a few hundred musicians. Gary, on the other hand, steps
up his game in moments like this. It doesn't matter if Rick
Derringer (who was in town) or Joe Blow from Idaho hopped up on stage,
Gary was going to outshine whomever... Some "Hot-Shot" from Japan
got up to play and was terrible in comparison. There were a couple
of other pickers that tried, but none could muster the same fire that
Gary was whipping up. Hiding near the back of the room, I was
eavesdropping on the stunned onlookers. "Man, who is this guy?"
or "Gary is cutting the head right off that dude!" or just a
simple shaking of the head and a respectful clapping of the hands to
acknowledge that our own Gary Hutchison is on that highest level.
Players don't get better than that...they just move around in that
space.
Highlights for me...I was afforded the opportunity to meet a drumming
legend, Jamie Oldaker
(www.jamieoldaker.com),
who is the long time drummer for Eric Clapton and has performed with
Leon Russell and Bob Seger to name a few. What I didn't know was
that Gary called me up to perform with the Whitlock Brothers right after
Oldaker performed. Following a legend like that is pretty
nerve-wrecking. It was good though... Then seeing and
hearing Gary rule over all-comers was nice. And, have an
opportunity to spend time with a best friend is always great. Even
if it is 500 miles away.
photo by © Martin Herlocker
October 7th--Private Party--Fayetteville, AR--Normally, as you
know, I don't report private parties...especially wedding receptions as
they are...well...private. This Saturday, though, we performed for
our good friend, Carter Clark and his new bride. Carter, a former
UA basketball player, has followed the band for years and has always
been a great friend. Great party and great people. Best
wishes to you both as you make your new life together.
October 6th--Landry's--Fort Smith, AR--Landry's has been our most
active venue for the band and for Gary in the River Valley over the past
few months. The food is great (already said that...). It's
small and not really set up for a band. But we managed to cram the
band into the corner by the door and rocked those folks into submission
Friday night. Brian joined us to make it an Oreo Blue show
(see...I told you) and it was great. Brian was tearing it up on
saxophone...absolutely freaking out those folks within arms reach of the
"bandstand." I recommend the blackened chicken over noodles...
Special Insert--Home--As the
realization sets in that Brian has officially left the band, I must
personally admit that sadness has set in from this band member.
Nowhere has there been a more professional bandleader in the
industry...maybe equal, but none more so. Although the rest of us
have chipped in along the way, Brian has been the spearhead and the
catalyst for the band's ultimate success for over 15 years. A long
time for any band at any level. I mean...the Beatles were only
together for 9 years. For a regional act fueled solely on an
entrepreneurial spirit and thriving on an independent platform, Oreo
Blue became a success because of Brian's vision to produce a unique
sound blending soulful saxophone fire with blistering guitar oftentimes
in unison and other times engaged in an on-stage battle. The
formula worked for the course of time these 15 years resulting in an
instantly identifiable sound, a strong collection of Brian-produced
recorded materials, and a high-energy live show that makes its mark on
even the most discerning audiences. Never willing to compromise,
Brian has always demanded the best from his band mates. My
drumming predecessors were all the best in the business, Don Orell, Mike
Lovelady, Doug Huffman, etc. Shoes that could never be
filled and the expectations were always high. But there was always
a purpose...the music, the groove. It always comes first.
But Brian has always run the band much like a tight-knit family.
There is love for each other like brothers plodding through life with
music as a vehicle...as a mouthpiece. Brian can proudly say that
he has made his musical mark on our society. Brian "is" Oreo Blue,
as it were, where Gary Hutchison has become part of his signature sound
formula. Rhythm sections always seem expendable, but Rod and
I have come to produce a solid foundation that has allowed Brian and
Gary to build fantastic musical landscapes for the eleven or more years
since Gary's arrival. Some of it has been captured on disc, but my
ultimate memories of Oreo Blue over the past 8 years in the band will be
filled with those times on the road in the Rock n Roll Suburban telling
stories and cutting up like teenagers. The countless live
performances that make the chill bumps on your skin seem permanent.
Playing your heart out for 5 people and exhausting yourself for 25,000
people and feeling exactly the same either way. I know that Brian
will still be around...he will still perform when we beg him to. I
know he will miss it and I look for his return to the stage sooner than
probably he expects. However, we will press on in the mean time
with the three of us as the Oreo Blue Trio. We still make great
music and will have a great time, but it is not the same. An old
football coach of mine was teaching me how to tackle. I was just a
kid and wasn't really getting it. He finally just blurted out,
"Take off his head. He won't be nothin' after that." I never
forgot that simple line. Oreo Blue is not Oreo Blue without Brian.
To our mutual success, my friend, and we will see you on stage not soon
enough.--Stephen
September 27-30th--Bikes Blues BBQ Festival--Fayetteville, AR--It
came and went like a buzz saw through Northwest Arkansas... well, it
kind of sounded like a buzz saw anyway. Nearly 9 hours on stage
Friday night for Gary and Saturday was a show for the ages. There
will be many photographs over the next week or so come in and I think
that I would rather just let some of the pictures tell the story, mmkay?
In the mean time, please go check out Craig Nelson's excellent black and
white photos here:
http://nelsonfoto.com/bbbbq2006/oreoblue/
September 16th--Blues Blast Fund Raiser--Chanute, KS--More than
300 people at Katy Park in Chanute for a fundraiser for Horizon Hospice
held in conjunction with a poker run. Together the events raised more
than $4500 in proceeds for the hospice and the Oreo Blue Trio helped
rock them into the windy night. Set up on the foul line at the
Katy ball field playing to the north stands, the crowd was dancing on
the tables. Great folks and a great cause...
September 8th--Georges Majestic Lounge 79th Birthday
Bash--Fayetteville, AR--What a fantastic establishment. Full
of history, longevity, and great music over the generations. The
quality of live music is no greater anywhere in the USA thanks to
Brian's commitment to excellence. Tonight was no exception.
We performed a quick set to open things up followed by the Cate Brothers
and legendary Elvin Bishop outdoors. Indoors, it was the Nace
Brothers, Steve Pryor and Eric Sardinas. Saturday, it was Oteil
Burbridge and the Peacemakers, Rising Star Fife & Drum, North
Mississippi All Stars, The Codetalkers, Mountains of Venus, and
Speakeasy. No way any other club could touch that lineup
especially for the low cover charge... I had a chance to check out
Oteil and the Peacemakers and man...what an unreal band. Oteil is
the bass player for the Allman Brothers Band during the day and has his
own funky band on the side. What a great night all around...one of
the greatest on record.
September 2nd--Hogville Tailgate Party (USC vs Arkansas)...the Mother
Of All Tailgates (MOAT)--Fayetteville, AR--It is a concept that is
in the making, but will someday be amazing. Ultimately, the
Hogville MOAT was a great time for all participants. We rocked the
crowd in the UA Gardens. There is a photo essay located
here----------->
August 26th--The Kitchen Pass--Joplin, MO--Alright, I know I am
supposed to put this one in the August newsletter, but I forgot, OK?
It's all good because Carl Parker sent us some photos of the show that I
just got today. The KP is a mainstay for us. We rocked them
with the Oreo Blue Trio that night and it was full throttle...
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